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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 Certified Source 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 Natural Growth Defects 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 Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ochroma pyramidale Trade Name Balsa Family Name Bombacaceae Synonyms Ochroma pyramidale Common Names Algodon, Balsa, Balsa real, Balso, Bob-wood, Bois flot, Bois liege, Bois lievre, Bois pripri, Bombast mahoe, Burillo, Cajeto, Cajote, Ceiba de lana, Ceibon botija, Ceibon lancro, Ceibon lanero, Corcho, Corkwood, Coton fleurs, Cotton fleurs, Cottontree, Doon-tree, Down tree, Dum, Dun, Duras, Enca, Enea, False cork tree, Fromager mapou, Gatillo, Gonote real, Guano, Hembra, Huampo, Jujul, Lana, Lanero, Lanilla, Lano, Macho, Mahaudeme, Maho, Manhot a grandes feulles, Mo-ma-ah, Palo de balsa, Palo de lana, Pata de lebre, Patte de lievre, Patte lapin, Pau de balsa, Pau de jangada, Piu, Pochote, Polak, Puero, Puh, Pung, Quattier, Tacariqua, Tambor, Tami, Tauri, Topa, Tucumo, Uru Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Baskets, Boards, Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Canoes, Caskets, Chemical containers, Core Stock, Door, Dressed boards, Drum sticks, Fishnet floats, Floats, Food containers, Insulating boards, Lifeboats, Light construction, Lumber, Model airplanes, Musical instruments , Novelties, Organ pipes, Paneling, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood corestock, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Rough boards/dimension stock, Shipbuilding, Sounding boards, Specialty items, Sporting Goods, Toys, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Violin bows, Violin, Xylophones Environmental Profile Widespread Globally secure Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview The geographical range of Balsa includes the Cape Verde Islands. It is also widely distributed in tropical America (with minor varieties distinguished as species by some authors). The tree grows in the Greater and Lesser Antilles, from St. Kitts to Grenada, and Trinidad & Tobago. It is also found from southern Mexico to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, and is planted in southern Florida and Dutch West Indies. It is typically found at lower elevations, particularly on bottom-land soils beside streams. It also grows on clearings and cutover forests, and is cultivated on plantations Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Black Yellow Orange Red White to cream Pale brown Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Reddish brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Brown Green/Grey Red Green White to yellow Pinkish Same as heartwood Yellowish The sapwood, which constitutes most of the balsa marketed, is white or oatmeal in color, often with a yellowish or pinkish tinge. Grain Straight Even Figure Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Open Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Coarse Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fine Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced Slightly lustrous High Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Primarily in older trees Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Vulnerable to attack by beetles and dry-wood termites No natural resistance Moderately durable Logs are readily attacked by pinhole borers Logs are prone to bluestain Logs should be extracted and converted quickly since they are readily attacked by pinhole borers and are also prone to blue stain. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Loose Knots Extension of Existing Shakes Severe twisting/warping Severe end splitting Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Moderate end spitting Moderate cupping Slight spring/bow Slight cupping Moderate collapse and honeycombing Slight end splitting Severe surface checking No surface checking No end splitting Moderate spring/bow Air-Drying of the timber is preferable over kiln-drying to minimize splitting and warping. Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Thick Stock Requires Care Slowly Difficult Figure Occurrence is variable Requires care to minimize degrade Easy Green balsa wood contains extremely high amounts of moisture and can absorb even more. Kiln drying requires skilled care to avoid case hardening or toasting. To reduce moisture absorption to a minimum, the material is often treated with a water repellent. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is slow Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Under optimum conditions, plantation grown balsa trees can be ready for harvesting after only seven years Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a fairly important source of timber in Ecuador, and is exported regularly. The natural range of Balsa is very extensive, it grows very rapidly, and is widely cultivated on plantations, all of which contribute to the abundance of Balsa. Price is rated as fairly expensive per board foot, but since its normal uses usually require small quantities of the material, the price is often an insignificant factor. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to carve Balsa is very uniform in texture and density, and is probably the easiest wood to cut Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to mortise Finishes poorly Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Difficult to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Moderate stability when properly seasoned Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Nails hold poorly Easy to nail Poor nail holding due to soft wood Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Special attention required Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate The timber is generally easy to plane, but dull or thick-edged cutters may produce fuzzy surfaces. It responds readily to sharp, thin-edged power or hand tools in most woodworking operations, including turning, moulding, mortising, and routing to yield relatively clean surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Excellent Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities