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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Guarea excelsa Trade Name American muskwood Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Guarea excelsa Common Names Alligator wood, American muskwood, Bois pistolet, Bois rouge a balles, Cabimbo, Carimbo, Cedrillo, Chahalanti, Chanalanti, Chohalante, Cramantee, Cramantree, Guano blanco, Guarea, Muskwood, Palo blanco, Tololo, Trompillo de plaza, Wild ackee Regions of Distribution Central America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Columbia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Millwork, Particleboard, Plywood, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Abundant/Secure Endangered Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and southern Brazil and Argentina. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pale brown Red Pinkish brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Paler than heartwood The sapwood is distinct from the heartwood, but is not clearly demarcated Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Wavy Stripe (figure) Closed Even Mottled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Wavy Interlocked Striped figure Figure shows mottle Weak figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Coarse Even or uniform Uniform Medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Low Lustrous Non-lustrous Dull Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood resistant to dry-wood termites Heartwood resistant to decay Odor Has an odor Seasoned wood has slight taste but no distinctive odor Aromatic scent when green Silica Content Siliceous Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Splitting Slight end splitting Slight surface checking Warping can be expected Slight twist/warp Slight spring/bow Slight cupping No surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Easy Dries slowly with little degrade Air dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree size is variable and depends upon species, but it is reported to attain a height of about 130 feet (39 m), with a trunk diameter that may be up to 48 inches (120 cm,) but are more commonly 40 to 75 feet (12 to 23 m) high and 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm). Buttresses, when present, are about 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m) high, and the tree develops a stem that is straight to irregular. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate High effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Difficult The wood is difficult to bore, and has a tendency to crumble and tear. Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to mould Satisfactory moulding results Movement in Service Small Stable The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning, and retains its shape well in use. Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Responds satisfactorily to all woodworking operations Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Cutting edges must be sharpened frequently Material has a high blunting effect on cutters Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Not responsive to impregnation The sapwood and heartwood are very difficult to treat with preservatives and are rated as non-responsive Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Good response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding qualities Good sanding finish Screwing Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting