
Aroeira (Astronium lecointei)
Family: Anacardiaceae
Common names: Almendro macho, Aroeira, Aroeira-do-sertao, Aroeira-legitima, Aroieroa, Bauwana, Bois de zebre, Bolaquiro, Goncalo-alvez, Guasango, Gusanero, Maracatiara, Muiracatiara, Muiracoatiara, Muiraquatiara, Pato de zamuro, Sanguesugueira, Satine rubane, Tiger wood
Distributed in: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela (Latin America)
Distribution overview: The northeastern area of the Amazon Basin in Brazil. May also be found in the western region of the Brazilian states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Sao Paulo, and south of Goias and Mato Grosso.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Bows, Building construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Construction, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Paneling , Poles, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting
Product sources: The timber is rather plentiful within its growth range, but supplies, especially in lumber form, are very limited on the U.S. Market. When available it is priced in the expensive range. 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick boards are reported to cost about US$9.00 per board foot, and veneer for marquetry costs about US$1.25 per square foot (Source - Wood and Wood Magazine, August, 1995).
Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Tree height is 30-40 m
Narrow flanged buttresses that are about 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) high. It develops well-formed cylindrical boles that are often clear for about two-thirds or more of the total height of the tree
Colors: the heart isPurple, Redand the sapwoodGrey, White.The grain isWavy, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium to dull luster
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Drying Defects: Distortion, Rapid air-drying may cause checking and warping
Ease of Drying: Thick Stock Requires Care
Comments: Durable General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Lesser known species from Central and South America One of the most beautiful tropical woods Strong Suited primarily for construction and secondarily for fine furniture Tough
Boring: Twist drills should be avoided because they cause breakouts
Carving: Start with medium-cut burrs and progress to fine ones is recommended since coarse burrs tend to chip the wood
Cutting Resistance: Requires power tools with carbide-tipped blades and cutters to work
Gluing: Use glues with a longer open time, such as woodworker's white glue
Mortising: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Moulding: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Movement in Service: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Nailing: Pre-Boring Recommended, Pre-boring recommended
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Impregnation: Very high resistance to chemical impregnation
Response to hand tools: Moderate working qualities
Routing recessing: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Sanding: Use a cabinet scraper and sanding with the grain for best results
Veneering qualities: Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling, Suitable for slicing
Steam bending: Unsuitable
Screwing: Very Good to Excellent Results, Very good screw holding qualities; Turning: Highly figured material requires care to prevent tearout
Painting: Very Good to Excellent; Polishing: Polishes very easily ; Staining: Fairly Easy to Very Easy; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,62 |
0,69 |
|
Density |
|
865 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
992 |
1467 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
84 |
122 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
803 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
144 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
146 |
168 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
1057 |
849 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,56 |
1,05 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
177 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
612 |
952 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 14112 | 20873 | psi | Crushing Strength | 1200 | 1742 | psi | Density | | 54 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1771 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 7097 | 10831 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2060 | psi | Static Bending | 8712 | 13553 | psi | Stiffness | 2083 | 2396 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 154 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 8 | 15 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.62 | 0.69 | | Weight | 66 | 53 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 11 | | % | |
Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = very high Very high density Very heavy Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hard Does not marr or dent easily Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = medium
It is far superior in strength to either Teak or Hard maple. It is hard - harder than Teak,
Brazil -, I.B.D.F.,1980,Woods from Tucurui - characteristics and application,The Ag. Ministry Brazilian Institute for Forest DevelopmentBrazil-Ministerio do Interior,1979,Pesquisas e Informacces sobre especies florestais da Amazonia,Dept. de Recuros Naturais Centro de Tecnologia MadeireiraChichignoud, 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.Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry DepartmentKribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.Loureiro, A.A., Freitas da Silva, M.,1968,Catalogo das Madeiras da Amazonia (2 vols,Min. do Ultramar Belem BrasilSimpson, W.T. and J.A. Sagoe. 1991. Relative Drying Times of 650 Tropical Woods : Estimation by Green Moisture Content, Specific Gravity, and Green Weight Density.United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-71, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.Takahashi, 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.Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
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