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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. Boring Carving 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 Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Guarea grandifolia Trade Name American muskwood Family Name Meliaceae Common Names American muskwood, Cedrillo, Cedrophy, Cramantree, Fruta de loro, Gito, Guano blanco, Guaraguao, Pico del oro, Trompillo Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Bedroom suites, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, General carpentry, Interior trim, Joinery, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Plain veneer, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in some parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Generally secure and abundant in French Guyana and Surinam, but it is officially classified as Vulnerable in Panama. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Suriname Distribution Overview Veracruz, Mexico through Central America to northern South America, and extending into central and western Amazonia. Generally found in lowland non-flooded rain-forests. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Brown Orange Reddish brown Pinkish brown Sapwood Color White Yellow The sapwood is distinct from the heartwood, but is not clearly demarcated Grain Even Straight Texture Fine Medium Luster Low Natural Durability Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Heartwood resistant to dry-wood termites Heartwood resistant to decay Odor Seasoned wood has slight taste but no distinctive odor Aromatic scent when green Silica Content Contains silica Kiln Schedules T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US/T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) U Drying Defects Warping can be expected The wood may warp moderately during drying, but there is no checking Ease of Drying Slowly Dries slowly with little degrade Air dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Some trees have buttresses that reach a height of 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6 m), and they develop boles that vary from straight to irregular Boring Difficult The wood is difficult to bore, and has a tendency to crumble and tear. Carving Good carving characteristics Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low cutting resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor gluing properties Movement in Service Stable Seasoned wood is stable, and retains its shape well in use Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good planing properties Planing, turning, moulding, mortising, and routing characteristics are good Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Not responsive to impregnation The sapwood and heartwood are very difficult to treat with preservatives and are rated as non-responsive. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Good response to hand tools Sanding Good sanding qualities Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Good results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 11172 psi Density 38 lbs/ft3 Impact Strength 55 14 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 1205 1931. psi Stiffness 1166 1578 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.47 Weight 37 30. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 785 kg/cm2 Density 608 kg/m3 Impact Strength 139 35 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 84 135. kg/cm2 Stiffness 81 110 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.47 Weight 592 480. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References CAOBA International, San Francisco, California. 1993. Personal Communication. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.