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Blunting Effect
Boring
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
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Synonyms
Myroxylon toluiferum, Toluifera balsamum
Common Names
Arbol de balsamo, Balsamito, Balsamo, Balsamo de Matagalpa, Balsamo de San Salvador, Balsamo de tolu, Balsamo de Valle, Balsamo del Peru, Balsamo negro, Balsamo-caboriba, Bosnian pine, Cabore, Caboreiba vermelha, Caboriba, Cabreuva, Cabreuva parda, Cabreuva vermelha, Cabriziva, Cedro chino, Chana-chana, Chirraca, Chucte, Estoraque, Greybark pine, Hoitziloxitl, Incienso, Incienso colorado, Kina, Kina morado, Kinakina, Marimbo, Naba, Nabal, Oleo de caboreiba, Oleo vermelho, Palo de balsamo, Pau de balsamo, Pau vermelho, Pino de Calabria, Quina, Quina estoracque, Quina morada, Quina-quina, Sandalo, Sangue de gato, Santos mahogany, Tache, Tolu, Ulor, Yaga-guienite
Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes
Environmental Profile
| Status unknown due to inadequate information |
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| Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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This species is officially classified as either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare in Costa Rica, but there is not enough information to determine which specific class it falls into. Still quite abundant in Bolivia and Peru.
Distribution Overview
The range of this species extends over a wide area from southern Mexico southward through Central America to Argentina.
Heartwood Color
| Brown |
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| Red |
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| Purple |
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| Pink |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Purple |
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| Red |
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| Dark brown |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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| Purplish |
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| Darkens after prolonged exposure |
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Color variation is moderate between boards.
Sapwood Color
| White |
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| Yellow |
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| White to yellow |
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| Well defined |
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Grain
| Figure |
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| Straight |
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| Interlocked |
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| Stripe (figure) |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Even |
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| Closed |
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| Wavy |
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| Straight |
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| Interlocked |
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| Striped figure |
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| Distinct and very fine figure |
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| Wavy |
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| Distinct figure |
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Quartersawn material usually exhibits a striped figure
Texture
| Medium |
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| Fine |
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| Medium |
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| Fine to medium |
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| Very fine |
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| Fine |
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| Even textured |
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Luster
| Medium |
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| Lustrous |
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| Pronounced |
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| Medium to high |
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Natural Growth Defects
Natural Durability
| Non-durable |
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| Perishable |
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| Resistant to termites |
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| Non-resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Non-resistant to marine borers |
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| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Very durable |
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| Durable |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Heartwood has high natural resistance to attack by fungi |
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Odor
| Wood has a spicy odor |
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| No specific taste |
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Light-Induced Color Change
Toxicity
| Sawdust may cause respiratory irritation in some individuals |
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Drying Defects
Kiln Drying Rate
| Rapid |
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| Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is straight |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Bole length is 10-20 m |
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| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm |
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| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm |
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| Bole length is 0-10 m |
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| Bark width is 20-25 mm |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced at a low volume. Export potential is rated as fair.
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Rather high effect |
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| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe |
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Boring
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Moderate to fairly difficult to saw |
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The timber is moderately difficult to saw because of hardness
Mortising
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
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Nailing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Pre-Boring Recommended |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Holds nails well |
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Planing
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Special attention required |
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| Difficult to plane |
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Responds poorly to planing, turning, moulding, boring and mortising and is somewhat difficult to work in all machining operations. Cutting edges of tools are dulled rather rapidly. Carbide-tipped tools are recommended
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood |
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| Resistant sapwood |
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| Heartwood is extremely resistant |
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| Difficult to treat with preservatives |
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Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Moderate working qualities |
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| Difficult to machine |
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| Poor machining properties due to severe and rapid dulling of cutting edges |
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| Fair response to hand tools |
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Sanding
| Satisfactory sanding characteristics |
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Turning
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Veneering Qualities
| Veneers moderately easy |
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| Difficult to veneer |
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| Veneers easily |
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| Suitable for peeling |
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Painting
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Polishing
| Good results |
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| Excellent results |
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Staining
Varnishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = high |
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| Hardness (side grain) = very hard |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = small |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
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| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft |
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| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
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| Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high |
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| Very heavy |
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| Very hard |
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| Very dense |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large |
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| Max. crushing strength = very high |
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| Heavy |
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| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = very high |
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Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is exceptionally high. It is far superior in strength to either Teak or Hard maple. It is hard - harder than Teak, and does not marr or dent easily. It is a very heavy wood. The density of the wood is very high
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
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| Bending Strength | 14566 | 20367 | psi |
| Crushing Strength | 1575 | 2453 | psi |
| Density | | 56 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 2600 | lbs |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 7724 | 11110 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 2677 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1986 | 2329 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | | 353 | inch-lbs |
| Specific Gravity | 0.7 | | |
| Weight | 55 | 48 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | | % |
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| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
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| Bending Strength | 1024 | 1431 | kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength | 110 | 172 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 897 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 1179 | kg |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 543 | 781 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 188 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 139 | 163 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | | 406 | cm-kg |
| Specific Gravity | 0.7 | | |
| Weight | 881 | 769 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
References
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito
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
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