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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 Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Guarea excelsa Trade Name American muskwood Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Guarea excelsa Common Names Alligator wood, American muskwood, Bois pistolet, Bois rouge a balles, Cabimbo, Carimbo, Cedrillo, Chahalanti, Chanalanti, Chohalante, Cramantee, Cramantree, Guano blanco, Guarea, Muskwood, Palo blanco, Tololo, Trompillo de plaza, Wild ackee Regions of Distribution Central America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Belize, Columbia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela Common Uses Beams, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Millwork, Particleboard, Plywood, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Abundant/Secure Endangered Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and southern Brazil and Argentina. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pale brown Red Pinkish brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Paler than heartwood The sapwood is distinct from the heartwood, but is not clearly demarcated Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Wavy Stripe (figure) Closed Even Mottled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Wavy Interlocked Striped figure Figure shows mottle Weak figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Coarse Even or uniform Uniform Medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Low Lustrous Non-lustrous Dull Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Heartwood resistant to dry-wood termites Heartwood resistant to decay Odor Has an odor Seasoned wood has slight taste but no distinctive odor Aromatic scent when green Silica Content Siliceous Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Splitting Slight end splitting Slight surface checking Warping can be expected Slight twist/warp Slight spring/bow Slight cupping No surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Easy Dries slowly with little degrade Air dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree size is variable and depends upon species, but it is reported to attain a height of about 130 feet (39 m), with a trunk diameter that may be up to 48 inches (120 cm,) but are more commonly 40 to 75 feet (12 to 23 m) high and 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm). Buttresses, when present, are about 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m) high, and the tree develops a stem that is straight to irregular. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate High effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Difficult The wood is difficult to bore, and has a tendency to crumble and tear. Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to mould Satisfactory moulding results Movement in Service Small Stable The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning, and retains its shape well in use. Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Responds satisfactorily to all woodworking operations Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Cutting edges must be sharpened frequently Material has a high blunting effect on cutters Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Not responsive to impregnation The sapwood and heartwood are very difficult to treat with preservatives and are rated as non-responsive Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Good response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding qualities Good sanding finish Screwing Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Poor results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Steam Bending Moderate Satisfactory Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8167 11686 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1014 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3843 6093 psi Shearing Strength 1510 psi Stiffness 1171 1360 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 10 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.47 Weight 35 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 574 821 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Hardness 459 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 270 428 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 106 kg/cm2 Stiffness 82 95 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.47 Weight 560 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Belize,1946,42 Secondary Hardwood Timbers of British Honduras,British Honduras Forest Department Bulletin,No.1 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. Brazier, J.D., Franklin, G.L.,1967,An Appraisal of the Wood Characteristics and Potential Uses of some,Nicaraguan Timbers,FAO for Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Caribbean Commission,1952,Information on properties of timbers gathered by questionnaire and,collated in the secretariat of the Caribbean Commission including some,related data from technical literature.,Caribbean Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad Caribbean Timbers, their,Utilization and Trade within the area CTUTA/1/Doc.7 + App.1-18 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Flores Rodriguez, L.J.,1969,Description Caracteristicas y usos de 25 Maderas tropicales,Mexicanas,Camera Nacional de la Industria de la Construccion Serie Maderas de Mexico Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1938,The Properties of Cramtree. Guinea excelsa H.B.K. from British Honduras,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Project 22,Investigation 25 pp12 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 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 Gomez-Vazquez, B.G.,1981,Wood structure and potential end uses of some lesser known Mexican timber,species,Thesis for Msc. Univ. Wales Bangor HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Marshall, R.C.,1934,Trees of Trinidad and Tobago,Government Printer Port of Spain Trinidad Marshall, R.C.,1939,Silviculture of the trees of Trinidad and Tobago - British West Indies,O.U.P.,London Pennington, T.D., Sarukhan, J.,1968,Manual para la Identificacion de campo de los Principales Arboles,Tropicales de Mexico,Inst. Nac. Inv. For. Mexico Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29