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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 Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Manilkara bidentata Trade Name Bulletwood Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Manilkara balata, Manilkara dariensis, Manilkara huberi, Manilkara nitida, Manilkara surinamensis, Mimusops balata, Mimusops bidentata, Mimusops globosa, Mimusops nitida, Mimusops riedeleana, Mimusops surinamensis Common Names Abeille, Acana, Almiqui, Aus, Ausabo, Ausubo, Balata, Balata burue, Balata franc, Balata gomme, Balata rouge, Beefwood, Boeti, Bolletri, Bolletrie, Borowe, Botrie, Bulletwood, Bully, Bully tree, Chicozapota, Chicozapote, Horseflesh, Iriar, Kobero, Macaranduba, Maparajuba, Massarandu, Massaranduba, Miurajuba, Nispero, Paardevleeshout, Pamashto, Paraju, Purgio, Purgo, Purue, Quinilla, Quinilla colorada, Red balata, Red lancewood, Sapotille, South American mahogany Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Columbia, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadelope [France], Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Bent Parts, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Construction, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Fishing rods, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: strings, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Shingles, Skis, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Violin bows, Wheel spokes Environmental Profile Vulnerable Widespread, abundant, and globally secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview Widely distributed throughout the West Indies, Central America, and northern South America; occurs in many forest types and not exacting as to soil or topography.  Locally frequent. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Red Reddish brown Red Dark brown Pale red to pink Purple Light red Dull plum red Brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White Pink White to yellow White to pale brown Pinkish Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Wavy Figure Distinct (figure) Closed Even Weak (figure) Straight Interlocked Wavy Distinct figure Weak figure Occasionally interlocked, but not always Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium Fine Uniform Medium Fine to medium Luster Low Slightly lustrous Dull Lustrous Low to Medium Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Durable Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Weathering properties are very poor Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Moderately resistant to attack by termites Highly resistant to decay fungi, and subterranean termites Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Non-toxic Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast T1 - B1 (4/4) US Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Slight cupping Slight spring/bow Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking No twisting or warping No surface checking No end splitting No cupping, generally Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Difficult Difficult to air-season Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trees are usually swollen at the base, Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. It is usually exported at a low rate, and is also well known for its yield of balata or gutta-percha which is collected from tapped trees. Small quantities of Bulletwood are exported because the tree is valued for its latex. Supplies of lumber are limited, and the material is usually available at high prices from the larger importers in the United States. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Medium effect Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Moderately easy despite high density Gluing Difficult to glue Use special attention for best results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Nailing Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Satisfactory planing properties Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Extremely resistant Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Good sanding finish Excellent sanding properties Easy to sand Screwing Screwing yields good results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Steam Bending Unsuitable Exudation Very good Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = large Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft.