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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
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
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
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
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Common Names
Baboen, Babun, Banak, Bastard cedar, Bicuiba, Cajuco, Colorada, Fruta dorada, Fruta dorda, Ira rosa, Light virola, Miguelarillo, Palo de sangre, Sangre, Sangre de toro, Sangre palo, Sangredrago, Sebo, Tapsava, Virola
Regions of Distribution
Central America
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Cigar boxes, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sills, Stools, Tables , Toothpicks, Trimming, Utility furniture, Veneer
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
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Distribution Overview
The genus Virola is represented by about 38 tree species in the mixed hardwood forests of Central and South America. The species are distributed from Belize and Guatemala, southward to Venezuela, the Guianas, the Amazon region of northern Brazil, southern Brazil and on the Pacific Coast, to Peru and Bolivia. They are commonly found in swamps and marshy areas. V. koschnyi grows primarily in Central America, from Honduras and Guatemala to Panama.
Profile Sources
Some material from this species is available from environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources.
The ITTO reports that a very important source of timber for export.
Heartwood Color
| Brown |
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| Yellow |
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| White |
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| Pale red to pink |
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| Pale brown |
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| Greenish to greyish |
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| White to cream |
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| Turn reddish brown upon exposure |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Pinkish brown |
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| Golden brown with a reddish cast |
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| Dark brown |
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| Brown |
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Sapwood Color
| Brown |
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| Yellow |
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| White |
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| Color not distinct from heartwood |
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Grain
| Straight |
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| Weak (figure) |
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| Figure |
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| Even |
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Texture
| Even or uniform |
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| Uniform |
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| Medium |
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| Fine to medium |
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Luster
Natural Growth Defects
| White deposits in vessels |
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| Gum/resin exudation |
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Natural Durability
| Non-resistant to marine borers |
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| Non-resistant to termites |
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| Non durable |
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| Perishable |
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| Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack |
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| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles |
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| Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log |
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| Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the heartwood |
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| Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi |
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Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
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Light-Induced Color Change
Toxicity
Kiln Schedules
| Moderate |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
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| Drying (speed) is fast |
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| Drying (speed) is fast |
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| Dry at a slow speed |
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| Dry at a slow speed |
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| Dry at a moderate speed |
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| UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 |
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| UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 |
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| T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US |
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| Slow |
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| Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom/T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US |
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| Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom |
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| Rather slow |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid |
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| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
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Drying Defects
| Severe end splitting |
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| Moderate end spitting |
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| Severe surface checking |
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| Severe cupping |
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| Moderate surface checking |
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| Moderate cupping |
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| Warping can be expected |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| Severe twisting/warping |
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| Severe collapse and honeycomb |
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| No surface checking |
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| No end splitting should be expected |
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| No cupping, generally |
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| Moderate collapse and honeycombing |
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| Honeycombing possible |
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| Collapse |
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| Checking |
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Ease of Drying
| Difficult |
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| Moderate |
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| Easy |
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| Dries well under good controlled conditions |
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| Dries slowly |
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Kiln Drying Rate
| Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
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| Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
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| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is straight |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Comments
Free of knots and other defects. Reported to yield red sap which flows like blood when cut
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
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| Slight effect |
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| Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild |
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| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild |
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Boring
| Fair to good results |
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| Fairly easy to very easy |
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| Easy |
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| Bores readily with ordinary machine tools |
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Carving
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to carve |
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Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Easy to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
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Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to glue |
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Mortising
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to mortise |
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| Good mortising properties |
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| Finishes well |
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Moulding
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to mould |
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| Satisfactory properties |
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| Good finishing results |
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Movement in Service
| Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement |
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| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
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| Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning |
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Nailing
| Easy to nail |
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| Holds nails well |
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| Possible if prebored |
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| Holds satisfactorily |
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| Difficult to nail |
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| Resists splitting |
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Planing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to plane |
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| Planes well, to a good finish |
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| Yields a clean surface |
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| Planes to a smooth surface |
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Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood |
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| Resistant heartwood |
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| Heartwood is permeable |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
| Responds Readily |
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| Easy to machine |
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| Responds well |
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Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Satisfactory routing results |
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| Recess without difficulty |
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| Moderately easy |
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Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to sand |
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| Yields smooth, clean surfaces |
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| Satisfactory sanding results |
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| Good sanding finish |
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Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to screw |
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| Screwing yields good results |
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| Good screw holding properties |
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| Difficult to screw |
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Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Easy to turn |
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| Good results |
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| Yields smooth, clean surface. |
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| Finish is generally satisfactory |
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Veneering Qualities
| Easy to cut |
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| There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits |
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| Suitable for slicing |
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| Suitable for peeling |
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| No steaming needed during bolt preparation. |
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Steam Bending
Buckles and fractures severely when compressed
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Satisfactory results |
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Staining
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
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| Stains well |
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| Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining |
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Varnishing
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