Long John (Triplaris surinamensis)
Family: Polygonaceae
Common names: Bois fourmi, Formigueira, Fourmigueiro, Hormigo, Long John, Mierenhout, Palo hormiguero, Palo mulato, Palo santo, Santa maria, Tangarana, Vara de maria
Distributed in: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela (Central America, Latin America)
Distribution overview: Various species in the genus Triplaris are distributed from southern Mexico through Central America and tropical South America. They often grow predominantly in swamps and are also common on low riverbanks in Surinam. The trees are sometimes found in pure stands on abandoned clearings.
Common uses: Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Cooperages, Fiberboard, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Particleboard, Vats
Environment profile: Vulnerable
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isWhite, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very little natural resistance against attack by decay fungi
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: T6 - D2 (4/4) US
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries quickly
Drying Defects: Ring Shakes, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Variable results.
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is fluted
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Hollowed stems are reported to often contain aggressive ants, which tend to attack individuals felling the tree
Blunting Effect: Moderate
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Fairly easy to saw
Gluing: Responds well to gluing
Mortising: Responds well to machine tools in mortising operations
Moulding: Material responds well to moulding operations
Movement in Service: Material responds well to moulding operations
Nailing: Good nailing characteristics, Pre-Boring Recommended
Planing: Poor to Very Poor
Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant sapwood
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Good routing qualities
Sanding: Good sanding properties
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Unsuitable
Screwing: Pre-boring recommended, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Painting: Fairly Easy to Very Easy; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Good;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,55 |
|
|
Density |
|
624 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
612 |
897 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
275 |
432 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
554 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
93 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
100 |
121 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
544 |
432 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
172 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 8718 | 12768 | psi | Density | | 39 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1222 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3916 | 6150 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1334 | psi | Stiffness | 1426 | 1727 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 150 | inch-lbs | Specific Gravity | 0.55 | | | Weight | 34 | 27 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | | % | |
Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Resists denting and marring Hard Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Dense Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Berni, 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 ResearchBoone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA., Forest Service, Preliminary Copy, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Erfurth, 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.1Takahashi, 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.4Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.
|