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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 Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Weathering		Scientific Name Eperua grandiflora Trade Name Wallaba Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Apa, Apazeiro, Baboen, Berioede walaba, Bijlhout, Bioudou, Caraota, Copaiba rana, Eperua falcata, Espadeira, Itoeli walaba, Ituri wallaba, Jebaro, Kharemeroe walaba, Khoeleroe walaba, Mahomillo negro, Oever walaba, Palo machete, Parewe, Rosa de montana, Sjoro walaba, Uapa, Uapa tabaco, Voapa tabaca, Vouapa, Walaba, Wallaba, Wapa, Wapa blanc, Wapa courbaril, Wapa montagne, Yaguana, Yoboko Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Particleboard, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shingles, Sub-flooring, Utility poles, Vats, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Generally found in the Guianas and into Venezuela and the Amazon region of northern Brazil. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Yellow Purple Orange Reddish brown Purple Red Dark brown Purplish brown Light red Dark gum streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Brown Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Narrow Grey Different than heartwood Contains gummy streaks Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Brownish white Grain Straight Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Uniform Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Luster Medium Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Gum/resin exudation Gum and mineral deposits Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Durable Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to marine borers Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Heartwood resistant to decay It is rated as low in resistance to attack by marine borers. Resistant to attack by subterranean termites and fairly resistant to dry-wood termite attack. I Weathering Excellent Odor No characteristic taste May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Severe end splitting Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Warping can be expected Moderate end spitting Moderate cupping Honeycombing possible Expect splits Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Dries slowly Air-Drying is suggested before kiln-drying Marked tendency to develop drying degrade. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Little Moderate effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Moderately easy Carving Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Saw teeth may be clogged by high exudation of gum from green wood. Kiln-dried wood is reported to exude little gum and is therefore easier to saw and machine. Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Pre-boring recommended Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is resistant Very difficult to treat Heartwood is highly resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Turns with moderate ease Good results Painting Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Readily Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15160 21331 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1999 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7542 10454 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.7 Weight 56 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1065 1499 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 906 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 530 735 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.7 Weight 897 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1984,Wapa- Eperua falcata, E. grandiflora, E. rubignosa,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol.204 p.69-72 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series 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. Detienne, P. and Thiel, J.,1988,Monographie des wapas de Guyane Francaise,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 216 pp.43-75 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fanshawe, D.B.,1948,Studies of the Trees of British Guiana Part 3,Tropical Woods,12(93,pp1-28 Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207