
Espave (Anacardium excelsum)
Family: Anacardiaceae
Common names: Bouchi-caju, Cahu, Cajarana, Cajou, Caju, Caju assu, Caju da Malta, Caju da matta, Caju do campo, Cajueiro do campos, Cajuhy, Cajuvana, Caracoli, Caschou, Cashu, Espave, Espavel, Espavel amarillo, Espavel rosado, Gran cashew, Hoobodia, Maranon, Maranon de montana, Mija, Mijagao, Mijao, Pomme caju, Quina, Wild cashew
Distributed in: Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: Costa Rica south through Panama to Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Frequently found in coastal areas on well-drained soils. Almost pure stands report in the Darien Province of Panama.
Common uses: Baskets, Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Veneer: decorative
Environment profile: Vulnerable in parts of its habitat and may soon become Endangered if current trends of over-exploitation and habitat destruction persist
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isStriped figure, the textureMedium to coarseand the lusterPronounced
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Silica Content: Siliceous
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: UK=E US=T6D2/T3D Fr=5
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries quickly
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Rapidly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Cutting Resistance: Low resistance to sawing
Gluing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Mortising: Very Good to Excellent
Moulding: Very Good to Excellent
Movement in Service: Very Good to Excellent
Nailing: Easy to nail, Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Planing: Poor to Very Poor
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is treatable
Response to hand tools: Moderate working qualities
Sanding: Poor to Very Poor Results
Turning: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Finish is generally satisfactory;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,33 |
0,33 |
|
Density |
|
496 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
348 |
528 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
24 |
35 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
247 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
38 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
63 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
76 |
90 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
480 |
416 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,28 |
0,42 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
64 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
223 |
388 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 4961 | 7519 | psi | Crushing Strength | 353 | 500 | psi | Density | | 31 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 545 | lbs | Impact Strength | | 15 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2496 | 4353 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 900 | psi | Static Bending | 3185 | 5527 | psi | Stiffness | 1083 | 1289 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 56 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 4 | 6 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.33 | 0.33 | | Weight | 30 | 26 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | | % | |
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low 0 Bending strength (MOR) = low 0 Bending strength (MOR) = very low 0 Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low
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Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.Wangaard, F.F., Muschler, A.F.,1952,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 3,Tropical Woods,14(98, pp1-190Wangaard, F.F.,1951,The Physical Properties of Tropical Woods,F.A.O. For. & For. Prod. Studies Series No.3 Tropical Woods and Ag.,Residues as sources of pulp,pp10-16WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
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