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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Hura crepitans Trade Name Hura Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Acacu, Acau, Acuapa, Acuapar, Arbol del diablo, Arbre au diable, Areeiro, Arenillero, Arerillo, Asniakara, Assacu, Bois du diable, Castana, Castaneto, Catahua, Cataua, Ceiba amarilla, Ceiba bla, Ceiba blanca, Ceiba de leche, Ceiba habilla, Ceiba habillo, Ceiba mil pesos, Cuatatachi, Haba, Haba de indio, Habillo, Hura, Hura wood, Jabillo, Javillo, Molinillo, Monkeys dinner bell, Nune, Ochoho, Ochoo, Ovillo, Pet du diable, Possentrie, Possum, Possumwood, Quauhayohuatli, Quauhtlat-latzin, Racuada, Rakuda, Rakudar, Sablier, Salvadera, Sandbox, Seda blanca, Solimanche, Tetereta, Tronador, Uacacu Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Blockboard, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Core Stock, Cutting surfaces, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Plain veneer, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural plywood, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Rare Rather rare in parts of its range expecially at periphery Globally secure Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Throughout the West Indies and from Central America to northern Brazil and Bolivia.  Often occurs in nearly pure stands in Surinam on moist sandy loam. Frequently cultivated for shade. In Bolivia, found in the transition from humid tropical forest to humid sub-tropical forest in the provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni, Cochabamba and La Paz y Pando. Heartwood Color White Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Yellowish white Grayish-white Sapwood Color White White to yellow Same as heartwood Grayish white Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Even Weak (figure) Rippled (figure) Stripe (figure) Variable (figure) Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Weak figure Striped figure Rippled figure Occasionally interlocked, but not always Irregular color Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Even textured Luster Lustrous Pronounced High Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack 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 has very little natural resistance Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Contains silica Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6-D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Discoloration Distortion Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Moderate surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Severe spring/bow No cupping, generally Moderate spring/bow Generally free from spring and bow Ease of Drying Rapidly Difficult Moderate Easy Control drying yields best results Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that small quantities of timber from this lesser-known-species is exported at a regular rate from Brazil to the United States, Venezuela, and Germany. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Tension wood is common Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Slight Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult Areas of tension wood affect results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly difficult to carve Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moderately easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to mould Movement in Service Small Seasoned wood is stable Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Tension & interlocked grain may cause woolly surfaces Planes to a poor finish Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Variable qualities Tension wood & interlocked grain may cause difficulties Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing is difficult Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor results Difficult to sand Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing yields satisfactory results Good screwing properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Tension wood may cause surfaces to be woolly Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Diifficult to veneer Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Requires care Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = low