South American Hardwood

IPE (Tabebuia serratifolia)

Origin:

Colour:

Sapwood - Greyish White,
Heartwood - Light to dark olive brown, with lighter or darker streaks

Characteristics:

Grain - Straight to occasionally irregular,
Texture - Fine

Durability:

Very durable

Uses:

Bridge building, naval construction and deck work. Vehicle bodies, decking accessories, tool handles.

Working Properties:

Moderately difficult to work with hand tools, and has a blunting effect on cutting edges. A fairly wide tooth pitch on rip saws is recommended. The timber polishes well, but pre-drilling before nailing and screwing is required.

Massaranduba (Manilka bidentata)

Origin:

Brazil

Colour:

Sapwood - Whitish or pale brown
Heartwood - Dark reddish brown

Characteristics:

Grain - Straight but sometimes interlocked
Texture - Fine and uniform

Durability:

Durable to very durable

Uses:

Heavy and marine construction, bridges, decking, industrial flooring, stair treads and stables.

Working Properties:

Machines and saws well, despite density, with medium blunting on cutting tools. Sands and polishes well, but pre-drilling required prior to nailing and screwing.

Muiracatiara (Astronium lecointei)

Origin:

Brazil

Colour:

Sapwood - Dirty grey to brownish white
Heartwood - Light golden to reddish brown with irregular spaced blackish brown streaks

Characteristics:

Grain - May be straight, wavy or interlocked
Texture - Typically fine

Durability:

Durable to very durable

Uses:

General constructions, exterior joinery, stables, decking, decking components.

Working Properties:

Core required (low cutting angle) but finishes well. Sawing required tungsten tipped tools. Pre-boring required for nailing and screwing but timber finishes well.

Tatajuba (Bagassa guianensis)

Origin:

Colour:

Sapwood - Pales yellow to yellowish white
Heartwood - Becomes lustrous golden brown to russet after drying and exposure

Characteristics:

Grain - Straight, interlocked or irregular
Texture - Medium coarse to coarse

Durability:

Durable

Uses:

Heavy construction, both civil and marine, decking, decking accessories, boat building, joinery.

Working Properties:

Saws well and machines well but the interlocked grain may cause some problems. Pre-boring is necessary for nailing and screwing but glues without difficulty.

Marupa (Simaruba amara)

Origin:

Brazil

Colour:

There is no distinction between sapwood and heartwood, the wood being a uniform cream colour

Characteristics:

Grain - Straight
Texture - Uniform and medium

Durability:

Moderately durable

Uses:

Interior joinery, mouldings and dowels.

Working Properties:

Works easily and machines to a smooth, clean surface. Easy to paint, stain and polish, but care required when glueing.

Cambara (Vochysia tomentosa)

Origin:

Brazil

Colour:

Sapwood - Greyish pink to buff
Heartwood - Light pinkish brown with golden lustre

Characteristics:

Grain - Generally straight
Texture - Rather coarse

Durability:

Moderately durable

Uses:

General carpentry, furniture components, mouldings, interior joinery.

Working Properties:

Works easily but because of coarse texture grain raises and sharp cutters are necessary. Takes glue, paint and nails well.

Virola (Virola spp.)

Origin:

Brazil

Colour:

The lighter coloured sapwood is not easily distinguished from the heartwood which is pinkish to reddish brown

Characteristics:

Grain - Straight
Texture - Medium to coarse

Durability:

Perishable

Uses:

Mouldings, internal joinery, reproduction furniture, cigar boxes and cutlery cases.

Working Properties:

Saws and machines well, and easy on hand tools with only slight dulling effect. Nailing and screwing properties good with no need for pre-drilling.

A.B Lewis Limited

Affordable — Dependable — Sustainable

South American Hardwood

IPE (Tabebuia serratifolia)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Massaranduba (Manilka bidentata)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Muiracatiara (Astronium lecointei)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Tatajuba (Bagassa guianensis)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Marupa (Simaruba amara)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Cambara (Vochysia tomentosa)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Virola (Virola spp.)

Origin:

Colour:

Characteristics:

Durability:

Uses:

Working Properties:

Call us now on 01704 834 940for Flooring Sales

Call us now on 01704 831 142for Hardwood Sales

Call us now on 01704 834 940
for Flooring Sales

Call us now on 01704 831 142
for Hardwood Sales