Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Vatairea lundellii Trade Name Bitter angelim Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Bitter angelim, Bitterwood, Mountain cow wood Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Brazil, Mexico Common Uses Furniture, Heavy construction Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink White Green/grey Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color Red Brown White White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Stripe Texture Medium Fine Medium to coarse Luster Medium Low Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Odor Has an odor Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Non-corrosive Toxicity Non-toxic Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Rapidly Little degrade Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is slow Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Slow Naturally dries at a moderate speed Drying rate is moderate Rapid Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good sanding finish Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Tends to Degrade Unsuitable Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 47 lbs/ft3 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 753 kg/m3 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1