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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Mimusops dariensis Trade Name Balata Family Name Sapotaceae Common Names Balata, Bulletwood, Bully, Bully-tree, Nispero Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Panama Common Uses Furniture, Heavy construction, Posts, Railroad ties Heartwood Color Brown White Black Red Pink Grey Sapwood Color White Brown Grey Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Medium Fine Even or uniform Fine Luster Slightly lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Odor Has an odor Drying Defects Checking Distortion Case Hardening Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Variable qualities Moderate working qualities Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Staining Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 58 lbs/ft3 Weight 57 52 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 929 kg/m3 References Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Record, S.J.,1939,American Woods of the Family Sapotaceae,Tropical Woods 8(59) pp21-51 Standley, P.C.,1928,Flora of the Panama Canal Zone,Smithsonian Institute. Contributions from the United States National,Herbarium Vol. 27