Wood inspector

Family: Burseraceae

Common names: Aguaras, Amacey, Amesclao, Azucarero, Azucarito blanco, Breu manga, Breu preto, Breugrande, Encens rouge, Haiawaballi, Incienso, Joeliballi tataroe, Lacre de bajo, Masa, Palo, Palo cochino, Red haiawaballi, Rode salie, Sali, Salie, Trementino azucarero, White haiawaballi

Distributed in: Bahamas, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America)

Distribution overview: The genus Tetragastris consists of about four medium- to large-sized trees that occur in the West Indies, Central America, and northern South America. They are widely distributed and are common in localized areas in the high forests of Surinam.

Common uses: Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, General carpentry, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Stairworks, Vehicle parts

Product sources: The ITTO reports that species in the genus produce limited quantities of timber. Export potential is rated as fair.

Environment profile: Vulnerable

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm

Colors: the heart isPurple, Redand the sapwoodYellow, Yellowish brown.The grain isModerately to severely interlocked, the textureVery fineand the lusterMedium to high

Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable

Odor: No specific taste The wood has what is described as a fragrant balsamic smell

Silica Content: Siliceous

Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly

Drying Defects: May check and split , Splitting

Ease of Drying: Slowly

Comments: Sali has been suggested as a potential substitute for Birch (Betula ) and Maple (Acer )

Blunting Effect: Moderate

Boring: Fairly difficult to very difficult

Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw

Gluing: Good gluing properties

Mortising: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Moulding: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Movement in Service: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Nailing: Pre-boring recommended, Tends to split during nailing

Planing: Very Good to Excellent

Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood response to penetration and retention is adequate

Response to hand tools: Responds Readily

Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Sanding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy

Steam bending: Satisfactory

Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Pre-boring recommended; Turning: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent;