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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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation 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 Astronium lecointei Trade Name Aroeira Family Name Anacardiaceae Synonyms Astronium lecointei 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 Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela 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 Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed 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. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Red Light golden brown to reddish brown, with irregularly spaced blackish brown streaks Sapwood Color Brown White Grey Dirty gray or brownish-white Clearly distinct from heartwood It is about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide Grain Figure Closed Even Interlocked Irregular Straight Wavy Distinct (figure) Mottled (figure) Wavy Straight Mottled figure Irregular Interlocked Distinct figure The wood has alternating bands of hard and soft tissue, and a mottled figure similar to that of Rosewood is occasionally present. Texture Medium Fine Medium Fine Luster Medium Low Medium to dull luster Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack by beetles Used for boat building and general construction Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Checking Distortion Rapid air-drying may cause checking and warping Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries slowly to prevent degrade Difficult to dry because of high moisture content 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 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). 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 Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Twist drills should be avoided because they cause breakouts To avoid burning, a slower speed (about 250 rpm) has been recommended Bradpoint bits and using a back board under tdrilled material can minimize tearout Back drill out periodically during deep drilling is also recommended Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Start with medium-cut burrs and progress to fine ones is recommended since coarse burrs tend to chip the wood Power carving tools with carbide-tipped burrs are essential Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Requires power tools with carbide-tipped blades and cutters to work Hard, heavy and dense Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Carefully Controlled Conditions Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Use glues with a longer open time, such as woodworker's white glue Surface should be pre-treated with a solvent to clear natural extractives Easy to glue Apply light coat, brief joining of pieces, separating the pieces and allowing the glue to partially set and then rejoining the pieces Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended for best results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small movement in use Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Straight-Grained wood can be fed into the planer at a 90 degree angle Slow feeding rates have been recommended Shallower cuts are suggested if any tearout occurs during planing Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a poor finish Easy to plane Cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended due to alternating bands of hard and soft material as well as irregular and interlocked grain Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Very high resistance to chemical impregnation Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Bits with ball bearing pilots, a consistent feed rate, and shallower passes have been suggested for best reults Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Use a cabinet scraper and sanding with the grain for best results Generally easy to sand Extra attention should be paid to grits since avoiding them may leave scratches that are difficult to remove Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Very good screw holding qualities Screws should be lubricated for easier operations Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Highly figured material requires care to prevent tearout Good turning charcteristics, especially when cutters are kept very sharp Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling Steam Bending Unsuitable Generally unsuitable for steam bending Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishes very easily No grain filling is required and a clear finish is suggested to enhance the beauty of the wood Finishes very easily Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties 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, Numerical Data 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 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 992 1467 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 84 122 kg/cm2 Density 865 kg/m3 Hardness 803 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 498 761 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 144 kg/cm2 Static Bending 612 952 kg/cm2 Stiffness 146 168 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 177 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.56 1.05 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.62 0.69 Weight 1057 849 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Brazil -, I.B.D.F.,1980,Woods from Tucurui - characteristics and application,The Ag. Ministry Brazilian Institute for Forest Development Brazil-Ministerio do Interior,1979,Pesquisas e Informac†ces sobre especies florestais da Amazonia,Dept. de Recuros Naturais Centro de Tecnologia Madeireira Chichignoud, 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 Department Kribbs, 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 Brasil Simpson, 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.4 Teixeira, 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.