Santos mahogany (Myroxylon balsamum)
Family: Leguminosae
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
Distributed in: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay (Central America, Latin America)
Distribution overview: The range of this species extends over a wide area from southern Mexico southward through Central America to Argentina.
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
Product sources: The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced at a low volume. Export potential is rated as fair.
Environment profile: Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
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.
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureVery fineand the lusterPronounced
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable
Odor: Wood has a spicy odor
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Drying Rate: Rapid
Drying Defects: Distortion, Splitting
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Rather high effect
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Cutting Resistance: Moderate to fairly difficult to saw
Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
Nailing: Pre-Boring Recommended, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Special attention required
Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood
Response to hand tools: Poor machining properties due to severe and rapid dulling of cutting edges
Sanding: Satisfactory sanding characteristics
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Painting: Very Good to Excellent; Polishing: Good; Staining: Poor; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
|
|
|
|
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,7 |
|
|
Density |
|
897 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
1024 |
1431 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
110 |
172 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
1179 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
188 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
139 |
163 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
881 |
769 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
406 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
| | | | Item | Green | Dry | English | 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 | | % | |
Max. crushing strength = high 0 Hardness (side grain) = very hard 0 Shrinkage, Radial = small 1 Bending strength (MOR) = high 1 Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft 0 Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft 0 Bending strength (MOR) = medium 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Very heavy Very hard Very dense Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = very high Heavy Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high 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
Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana QuitoBerni, 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 ResearchBrazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes RisboroughChichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme.1990.Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America.International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Ducke, A.,1943,The Most Important Woods of the Amazon Valley,Tropical Woods,12(74,pp1-15Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry DepartmentFanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods LaboratoryKynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas TechnologicasNWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO.Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University PressRendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. LondonRizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA BrazilSaks, E.V.,1954,Tropical Hardwoods for veneer Production in Mexico,Caribbean Forester,15(3&4, pp112-9Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.)Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo DirulgaturoTakahashi, 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.4Teixeira, D. E., M. A. E. Santana and M. Rabelo de Souza.1988. Amazonian Timbers for the International Market.ITTO Technical Series 1.Brazilian Institute for Forestry Development, Brazil.Timber Development Association Ltd.,1943,West Indian Locust (Hymenaea courbaril) and Cabreuva vermelho (Myroxylon,toluiferum,TRADA, Timber Leaflet,79Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857Volkart, C.,1965,Recopilacion dedatos sobre propiedacies y usos maderos del Bosque Tropical,de las Costa Atlantica de Nicaragua,Turrialba,15(1, pp43-57
|