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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Tabebuia donnell-smithii Trade Name Primavera Family Name Bignoniaceae Synonyms Cybistax Donnel Common Names Campeche, Chiapas, Copal, Cortez, Cortez blanco, Duranga, Durango, Flor de zope, Oaxaca, Palo blanco, Pequia marfim, Prima vera, Prima vera mahogany, Primavera, Roble, San Juan, Tabasco, White mahogany Regions of Distribution Central America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Trimming, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The geographical distribution of Primavera includes Central America, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. The trees are reported to thrive on moist, rich soils, but have also adapted to dry areas. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Yellow Black Red Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Pale yellow Darkens to yellowish rose with red, orange, and brown stripes Primavera is reported to resemble Ceylon satinwood in appearance Sapwood Color Yellow White Brown Green/Grey Green Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Straight Stripe (figure) Other (figure) Mottled (figure) Closed Even Distinct (figure) Fiddleback (figure) Crossed Ribbon (figure) Rippled (figure) Wavy Variable (figure) Interlocked Straight Striped figure Other figure Mottled figure Wavy Variable figure Straight to interlocked Rippled figure Ribbon figure Ribbon figure alternate between light and dark bands depending on alignment of fiber Figure shows fiddleback occasionally Figure shows "rain drop" occasionally Distinct figure Crossed Exhibits a ribbon figure which can alternate between light and dark due to the shifting in alignment of bands of fiber at regular intervals. The bands are also reported to dissect further into a wide variety of cross-figures, of which mottle, rain-drop and narrow fiddle-back are the most common. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Medium Fine to medium Medium to fairly course Coarse Luster Pronounced Lustrous Fairly lustrous Natural Durability Durable Non-durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwoood susceptible to beetle attack Heartwood is vulnerable to pin-hole borer attack Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Good weathering properties Durable Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast T6 - F3 (4/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Case Hardening Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking No surface checking Slight spring/bow No end splitting No cupping, generally Shrinkage tends to be slight No twisting or warping Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Easy Dries easily with very little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 0-10 m Plantation trees are reported to mature to marketable sizes in 20 to 35 years. Product Sources Primavera trees are grown also in plantations. Most of the material on the US market is believed to come from Guatemala, where the law requires Primavera logs to be processed and exported in lumber and veneer forms only. Supplies are scarce in the veneer form, but are somewhat available in lumber form in the United States. The material is priced in the costly range. Exports to Europe are very rare. The value and marketability of the material is dictated by the time of year the tree is felled: the sap of the tree rises and fall with the phases of the moon, and the best product is from trees felled in 'the dark of the moon', when the sap is low. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Harvesting tree at suggested period reduces sap exudation from log ends It is recommended that the tree be felled in 'the dark of the moon', since unlike trees in the temperate regions, the sap rises and falls with the phases of the moon instead of in winter and spring. Sap attracts insects that may damage the timber Sap content is reported to depend upon the time of yeat the tree is felled Subsituted for hard woods because it works easily in most machining operations Blunting Effect High to severe Medium effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Good results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good moulding properties Movement in Service Small Stable Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Thin boards are prone to split Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Ease of planing is moderate Reducing cutting angle prevents tearing in interlocked areas Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is modertely permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing characteristics are good Sanding Sanding characteristics are good Screwing Pre-boring recommended Thinner stock requires carefull screwing to avoid splitting Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Material with interlocked grain should be avoided Good results Fairly good response to preservative treatment Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Easy to cut Steam Bending Seldom used for steam bending applications Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Excellent results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Weight = moderate Toughness (total work) = very low Surfaces may dent easily Soft Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density = medium Crushing strength = medium Bending strength in the air-dry condition is medium, being much weaker than White oak or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7524 10927 psi Crushing Strength 784 862 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 799 lbs Impact Strength 15 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3797 6103 psi Shearing Strength 1491 psi Static Bending 4087 7164 psi Stiffness 1101 1225 1000 psi Toughness 74 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 6 6 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.39 0.43 Weight 28 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 529 768 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 55 60 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 362 kg Impact Strength 38 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 266 429 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 104 kg/cm2 Static Bending 287 503 kg/cm2 Stiffness 77 86 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 85 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.42 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.39 0.43 Weight 448 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 9 Central America and the Caribbean,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know Your Woods: A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers, Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Dickinson, F.E.,1949,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 1,Tropical Woods,13(95,pp1-140 Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Imported Wood Purchasing Guide : A Comprehensive Purchasing Reference for Imported Woods. 20th Edition. 1992. International Wood Trade Publication, Inc. 1235 Sycamore View, Box 34908, Memphis, Tennessee. Kaiser, J. 1990. Wood of the Month Annual - Primavera: the White Mahogany, Supplement to Wood and Wood Products, September 1990. Page 10A. Kline, M. 1982. Cybistax donnell-smithii - Primavera. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 124-125. Kryn, J.M.,1954,Roble blanco, Amapa, Mayflower (Tabebuia pentaphylla,U.S.A. 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Mexico Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1940,American Woods of the Family Bignoniaceae,Tropical Woods,8(63,pp 9-38 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47 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.4 Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 Wangaard, F.F., and A.F. Muschler. 1952. 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, pp1-190 Wangaard, 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,pp10-16 Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series