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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance 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 Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Cedrela fissilis Trade Name Brazilian cedar Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Brazilian cedar, Cedrela, Cedrela americana, Cedro, Cedro amarello, Cedro aromatica, Cedro balata, Cedro branco, Cedro caopiuva, Cedro cheiroso, Cedro de Amazonas, Cedro de Castilla, Cedro grenadine, Cedro misionero, Cedro real, Cedro rosa, Cedro vermelho, Cigar box cedar, South American cedar, Spanish cedar Regions of Distribution Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Musical instruments, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color White Yellow Green/grey Red Pink Orange Reddish brown Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color Yellow White White to yellow Pinkish Well defined Grain Even Interlocked Straight Figure Rippled (figure) Straight Interlocked Rippled figure Texture Fine Medium Medium to coarse Medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately durable Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting No twisting or warping No end splitting Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moderate gluing properties Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Moulding Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring recommended Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing No steaming needed during bolt preparation. Easy to cut Steam Bending Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3560 5901 psi Shearing Strength 1334 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 250 414 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 93 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % 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 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24 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 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5