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Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Virola melinonii

Trade Name
Baboen

Family Name
Myristicaceae

Synonyms
Virola michelii


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Baboen, Baboenhout, Banak, Becuiba, Bouchi moulomba, Camaticaro virola, Dalli, Hill dalli, Hoogland baboen, Hooglandboen, Irikwa, Matou moulomba, Mattoe moenba, Pintri, Pintrie, Ucuhuba, Ucuuba, Ucuuba preta, Yayamadou, Yayamadou grand bois, Yayamadou montagne

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Suriname

Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Coffins, Concrete formwork, Cooperages, Food containers, Furniture, Matches, Millwork, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Veneer

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable


Heartwood Color
Yellow
Brown
Green
White
Pale brown
White to cream


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Color not distinct from heartwood
Pale pink


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Even
Figure
Rays (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Rays figure


Texture
Fine
Medium
Medium to coarse
Fine to medium


Luster
Medium
Low
Pronounced


Natural Durability
Very durable
Non-resistant to marine borers
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Non durable
Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Perishable


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Uk=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Checking
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Slight spring/bow
Moderate twist/warp
Drying degrade from spring and bow is often moderate


Ease of Drying
Reconditioning Treatement
Fairly Easy
Little degrade
Moderate
Difficult


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy


Gluing
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory moulding results


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Not stable/prone to move


Nailing
Easy to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Planes to a satisfactory finish


Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood is permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Good


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Moderately easy to veneer
Good gluing qualities
Easy to cut
Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts
Bolt preparation requires steaming


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally good


Varnishing
Satisfactory
Good results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = medium
Crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength682310695psi
Density32lbs/ft3
Hardness319lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength978psi
Stiffness138816121000 psi
Work to Maximum Load57inch-lbs/in3
Weight3125lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage10%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength479751kg/cm2
Density512kg/m3
Hardness144kg
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength68kg/cm2
Stiffness971131000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.350.49cm-kg/cm3
Weight496400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%

References
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 Research

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1984,Yayamadou montagne - Virola melinonii (R.Ben) A.C. Smith,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 203 p.62

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

Polak, A.M.,1992,Major Timber Trees of Guyana A Field Guide,The Tropenbos Foundation Wageningen, The Netherlands

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

Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed.

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.