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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 Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Bertholletia excelsa Trade Name Brazil nut-tree Family Name Lecythidaceae Common Names Almendro, Brazil nut tree, Brazil nut-tree, Brazilnoot, Castana del maranon, Castanha do Para, Castanha Pará, Castanha verdadeira, Castanheiro, Juvia, Nha, Pará nut tree, Totoka, Tucary, Turury, Yubia, Yuvia Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chemical containers, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Paneling , Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sheathing, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Siding, Utility furniture, Vats, Veneer Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Abundant/Secure Endangered Widespread Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Globally secure Endangered within most of its growth range (and may soon be Extinct if adverse environmental practices persist) Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Common throughout the Amazon region of Brazil (Centro-Oeste, Goias, Mato Grosso, Norte, Acre, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia), Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. In Venezuela also found in the forests of the upper Orinoco and Rio Negro. Reaches its best development on well-drained clay or sandy clay soils. Widely cultivated outside of its natural range due to the value of its seeds and its high quality wood. Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Black Pale red to pink Brown Reddish brown Varies depending on site conditions Turn reddish brown upon exposure Pinkish brown Color varies considerably Sapwood Color Pink Brown White Green/Grey Red Yellow White to yellow Different than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Pale yellowish brown Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Even Stripe (figure) Ribbon (figure) Grain is generally interlocked Striped figure Straight Straight Occasional ribbon figure on radial surfaces Interlocked Interlocked The grain is typically interlocked, sometimes producing a ribbon figure on radial surfaces. The wood is typically plain in appearance and is described as monotonous. Texture Medium Coarse Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Low Medium Slightly lustrous Low to medium Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Perishable Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Very durable Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi Durable to very durable Its high resistance to decay is reported to make it a popular choice for ship decking, water tanks, railroad ties, and other exterior uses. The wood has good weathering characteristics Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight tendency to distort Slight tendency to check Slight case-hardening Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Rapidly Thick Stock Requires Care Little degrade Easy Shrinkage Easily, rapidly with little degrade Shrinkage in the volumetric direction is comparable to that of American Black cherry (Prunus serotina ) Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bark width is 5-10 mm Bole length is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing is moderate Boring Fair to good results Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gum from green material clogs saw Difficult to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results He material is moderately difficult to mould. Movement in Service Little movement after manufacture Brazil nut-tree is more stable after manufacture than Maple since its average shrinkage in the volumetric direction is about a quarter less than maple. Nailing Nails well without pre-boring Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate The density of the wood is slightly lower than that of Maple, and the two woods compare favorably in working properties. High gum exudates in Brazil nut-tree tends to interfere with operations Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Sanding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent sanding qualities Turning Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Good Painting Satisfactory after surface treatment Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Smooth finish Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Staining properties are satisfactory Varnishing Pre-treatment needed or recommended Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Work Maximum Load = Low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Resists denting and marring Max. crushing strength = high Max crushing strength = very low Heavy Hardness = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high The tree is highly favored for its seeds, which are commercially popular. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8943 13755 psi Crushing Strength 729 872 psi Density 44 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1251 lbs Impact Strength 33 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4322 6935 psi Shearing Strength 1486 psi Static Bending 5174 8310 psi Stiffness 1562 1793 1000 psi Toughness 140 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.54 0.61 Weight 47 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 628 967 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 51 61 kg/cm2 Density 705 kg/m3 Hardness 567 kg Impact Strength 83 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 303 487 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 104 kg/cm2 Static Bending 363 584 kg/cm2 Stiffness 109 126 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 161 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.54 0.61 Weight 753 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Arno, J. 1991. Bertholletia excelsa - Brazilnut. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 62-64. 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 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. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers. The Malayan Forester, 28(30): 315-318. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Hess, R.W., Wangaard, F.F., Dickinson, F.E.,1950,Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods 2,Tropical Woods,13(97,pp1-132 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 Lamb, A.F.A., Wangaard, F.F.,1950,The Gluing Properties of certain Tropical American Woods,Yale Univ. School of Forestry Technical Report,4 Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210 Sobral Filho, M.,1981,Introduction of a lesser known species: Brazil nut timber.,Forest Products Journal, 31:3, 10-12 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 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.