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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
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Guarea trichilioides

Trade Name
American muskwood

Family Name
Meliaceae

Synonyms
Guarea guara


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Acajou, Alligator wood, American guarea, American muskwood, Atapio, Atauba, Ato blanco, Bilibili, Bois bale, Bois pistolet, Bois rouge, Buck vomit, Cabimbo, Cabirma, Cabirmasanta, Cambotata, Carbonero, Carrapeteiro, Cedrillo, Cedro dulce, Cedro macho, Cedrohy, Cedron, Cedrophy, Coquito de montana, Cramantee, Cramantree, Diofiesirie, Fruta de loro, Gito, Guano blanco, Guaraguao, Karaba-balli, Latapi, Latapicaspi, Manu, Mestizo, Pico del oro, Redwood, Requia, Shuparai, Trompeto, Trompillo, Wild akee, Yamagua, Yamao, Zambo cedro

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Beams, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, 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, 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, Paneling, Plywood, Shipbuilding, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer

Environmental Profile
Extinct
Abundant/Secure
Vulnerable
Endangered
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
West Indies, Mexico, Central America, southern Brazil and Argentina.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Purple
Pale red to pink
Reddish brown
Red
Pinkish brown
Greenish to greyish
Dark brown
Brown


Sapwood Color
White
Green/Grey
White to yellow
Different than heartwood

The sapwood is distinct from the heartwood, but is not clearly demarcated

Grain
Straight
Figure
Even
Other (figure)

Straight
Other figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium


Luster
Slightly lustrous
Low
Dull


Natural Durability
Durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Heartwood resistant to dry-wood termites
Heartwood resistant to decay


Odor
Seasoned wood has slight taste but no distinctive odor
Aromatic scent when green


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
Dry at a slow speed
T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US/T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow


Drying Defects
Splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Warping can be expected
No surface checking


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Dries slowly with little degrade
Air dries slowly


Kiln Drying Rate
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is fluted
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 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

Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Moderately easy

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
Low cutting resistance
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finishes well


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Stable

The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning to the appropriate moisture content for use.

Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Yields clean surfaces
Planes well, to a good finish
Machines well with ordinary tools

The timber planes, moulds, mortises, turns, and carves easily to produce fairly clean surfaces.

Resistance to Impregnation
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is extremely resistant
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 machine
Good response to hand tools


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Good sanding qualities
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Pre-boring recommended
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Screwing yields good results


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results


Veneering Qualities
Steaming required to prepare bolts


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Toughness (total work) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength861012674psi
Density40lbs/ft3
Hardness1040lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength46277110psi
Shearing Strength1713psi
Stiffness140616341000 psi
Toughness95inch-lbs
Specific Gravity0.47
Weight3931lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage11%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength605891kg/cm2
Density641kg/m3
Hardness471kg
Maximum Crushing Strength325499kg/cm2
Shearing Strength120kg/cm2
Stiffness981141000 kg/cm2
Toughness109cm-kg
Specific Gravity0.47
Weight624496kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brooks, R.L., et al,1941,Durability tests on Untreated Timbers in Trinidad,Caribbean Forester,2(3,pp101-119

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1

Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7

Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249

Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98

Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205

Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Smith, E.E.,1954,The Forests of Cuba,Maria Moors Cabot Foundation,U.S.A. Publication, No. 2

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4









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