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IPE (Tabebuia serratifolia) |
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Origin |
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Colour |
Sapwood- |
Greyish White |
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Heartwood- |
Light to dark olive
brown, with lighter or darker streaks |
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Durability |
Very durable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
Straight to
occasionally irregular |
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Texture- |
Fine |
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Uses
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Bridge building, naval
construction and deck work. Vehicle bodies, decking
accessories, tool handles. |
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Working
Properties
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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. |
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Massaranduba (Manilka
bidentata) |
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Origin |
Brazil |
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Colour |
Sapwood- |
Whitish or pale brown |
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Heartwood- |
Dark reddish brown |
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Durability |
Durable to very
durable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
Straight but sometimes
interlocked |
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Texture- |
Fine and uniform |
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Uses |
Heavy and marine
construction, bridges, decking, industrial flooring, stair treads
and stables |
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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. |
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Muiracatiara
(Astronium
lecointei) |
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Origin |
Brazil |
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Colour |
Sapwood- |
Dirty
grey to brownish white |
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Heartwood- |
Light
golden to reddish brown with irregular spaced blackish brown streaks |
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Durability |
Durable to very
durable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
May be straight, wavy
or interlocked |
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Texture- |
Typically
fine |
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Uses |
General
constructions, exterior joinery, stables, decking, decking
components |
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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. |
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Tatajuba
(Bagassa guianensis) |
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Origin |
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Colour |
Sapwood- |
Pales
yellow to yellowish white |
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Heartwood- |
Becomes lustrous
golden brown to russet after drying and exposure |
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Durability |
Durable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
Straight, interlocked
or irregular |
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Texture- |
Medium
coarse to coarse |
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Uses |
Heavy construction,
both civil and marine, decking, decking accessories, boat building,
joinery |
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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. |
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Marupa
(Simaruba amara) |
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Origin |
Brazil |
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Colour |
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There
is no distinction between sapwood and heartwood, the wood being a
uniform cream colour |
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Durability |
Moderately durable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
Straight |
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Texture- |
Uniform and medium |
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Uses |
Interior
joinery, mouldings and dowels |
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Working
Properties |
Works
easily and machines to a smooth, clean surface. Easy to paint,
stain and polish, but care required when glueing |
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Cambara
(Vochysia tomentosa) |
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Origin |
Brazil |
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Colour |
Sapwood- |
Greyish
pink to buff |
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Heartwood- |
Light
pinkish brown with golden lustre |
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Durability |
Moderately durable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
Generally
straight |
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Texture- |
Rather
coarse |
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Uses |
General
carpentry, furniture components, mouldings, interior joinery |
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Working
Properties |
Works easily but
because of coarse texture grain raises and sharp cutters are
necessary. Takes glue, paint and nails well. |
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Virola
(Virola spp.) |
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Origin |
Brazil |
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Colour |
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The
lighter coloured sapwood is not easily distinguished from the heartwood
which is pinkish to reddish brown |
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Durability |
Perishable |
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Characteristics |
Grain- |
Straight |
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Texture- |
Medium
to coarse |
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Uses |
Mouldings,
internal joinery, reproduction furniture, cigar boxes and cutlery
cases |
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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. |
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