Search for

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 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 Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ocotea coriacea Trade Name Avispillo Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Nectandra coriacea, Ocotea catesbyana, Laurus catesbyana, Laurus coriacea Common Names Avispillo, Bastard torch, Baved, Black torch, Bois doux muscade, Bois doux negresse, Bois doux noir, Bois violin, Boniate, Capberry sweetwood, Cigua, Cigua blanca, Ciguarraya, Jamaica nectandra, Jamaica ocotea, Lancewood, Laurel, Laurel avispillo, Lauriel blanc, Laurier marbre, Lesiba, Pepper cilament, Sigua, Small leaved sweetwood, Sweehwood, Sweet torchwood, Sweet wood Regions of Distribution Central America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico [US], Trinidad and Tobago, United States Common Uses Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Paneling, Plywood, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Red Pink Green/grey Black Pale red to pink Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Interlocked Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Straight Striped figure Interlocked Distinct figure Texture Coarse Medium Medium Luster Low Medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Moderately durable Durable Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight cupping No surface checking No end splitting No cupping, generally Moderate twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Rapid Tree Size Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to sand Screwing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Suitable for slicing Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Unsuitable Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 32 lbs/ft3 Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 512 kg/m3 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Britton, N.L., Millspaugh, C.F.,1920,The Bahama Flora,Britton & Millspaugh,New York Caribbean Commission,1952,Information on properties of timbers gathered by questionnaire and,collated in the secretariat of the Caribbean Commission including some,related data from technical literature.,Caribbean Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad Caribbean Timbers, their,Utilization and Trade within the area CTUTA/1/Doc.7 + App.1-18 Fors, A.J.,1965,Maderas Cubanas,Inst. Nac. Ref. Agraria La Habara Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249 Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205 Schiffino, J.,1945,Riqueza Forestal Dominicana (Three volumes,Secretaria de Estado de Agric. Ind. y Trabajo Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4