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Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Myroxylon balsamum Trade Name Santos mahogany Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Myroxylon toluiferum, Toluifera balsamum Common Names Arbol de balsamo, Balsamito, Balsamo, Balsamo de Matagalpa, Balsamo de San Salvador, Balsamo de tolu, Balsamo de Valle, Balsamo del Peru, Balsamo negro, Balsamo-caboriba, Bosnian pine, Cabore, Caboreiba vermelha, Caboriba, Cabreuva, Cabreuva parda, Cabreuva vermelha, Cabriziva, Cedro chino, Chana-chana, Chirraca, Chucte, Estoraque, Greybark pine, Hoitziloxitl, Incienso, Incienso colorado, Kina, Kina morado, Kinakina, Marimbo, Naba, Nabal, Oleo de caboreiba, Oleo vermelho, Palo de balsamo, Pau de balsamo, Pau vermelho, Pino de Calabria, Quina, Quina estoracque, Quina morada, Quina-quina, Sandalo, Sangue de gato, Santos mahogany, Tache, Tolu, Ulor, Yaga-guienite Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural work, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status unknown due to inadequate information Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is officially classified as either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare in Costa Rica, but there is not enough information to determine which specific class it falls into. Still quite abundant in Bolivia and Peru. Distribution Overview The range of this species extends over a wide area from southern Mexico southward through Central America to Argentina. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Reddish brown Purple Red Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Purplish Darkens after prolonged exposure Color variation is moderate between boards. Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Grain Figure Straight Interlocked Stripe (figure) Distinct (figure) Even Closed Wavy Straight Interlocked Striped figure Distinct and very fine figure Wavy Distinct figure Quartersawn material usually exhibits a striped figure Texture Medium Fine Medium Fine to medium Very fine Fine Even textured Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Medium to high Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood has high natural resistance to attack by fungi Odor Wood has a spicy odor No specific taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Sawdust may cause respiratory irritation in some individuals Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Bark width is 20-25 mm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced at a low volume. Export potential is rated as fair. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Rather high effect Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to fairly difficult to saw The timber is moderately difficult to saw because of hardness Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Special attention required Difficult to plane Responds poorly to planing, turning, moulding, boring and mortising and is somewhat difficult to work in all machining operations. Cutting edges of tools are dulled rather rapidly. Carbide-tipped tools are recommended Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Difficult to treat with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Poor machining properties due to severe and rapid dulling of cutting edges Fair response to hand tools Sanding Satisfactory sanding characteristics Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Good results Excellent results Staining Poor results Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Very heavy Very hard Very dense Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = very high Heavy Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is exceptionally high. It is far superior in strength to either Teak or Hard maple. It is hard - harder than Teak, and does not marr or dent easily. It is a very heavy wood. The density of the wood is very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14566 20367 psi Crushing Strength 1575 2453 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2600 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7724 11110 psi Shearing Strength 2677 psi Stiffness 1986 2329 1000 psi Toughness 353 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.7 Weight 55 48 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1024 1431 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 110 172 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 1179 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 543 781 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 188 kg/cm2 Stiffness 139 163 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 406 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.7 Weight 881 769 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito 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 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 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. Ducke, A.,1943,The Most Important Woods of the Amazon Valley,Tropical Woods,12(74,pp1-15 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.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Kynoch, W., Norton, N.A.,1938,Mechanical Properties of certain tropical woods chiefly from S. America,School of Forestry and Conservation, University of Michigan Bulletin,No.7 Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Mainieri, C., Pereira, J.A.,1965,Madeiras do Brasil,Anuario Brasileiro de Economia Florestal,17(17,PP135-416 Mainieri, C.,1978,Fichas de Caracteristicas das Madeiras Brasileiras,Inst. Pesquisas Technologicas NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO. Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Rizzini, C.T.,1978,Arvores e Madeiras Uteis do Brasil: Manual de Dendrologia Brasileira,Editora Edgard Blucher LTDA Brazil Saks, E.V.,1954,Tropical Hardwoods for veneer Production in Mexico,Caribbean Forester,15(3&4, pp112-9 Sao Paulo - Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas,1956,Tabelas de Resultados obtidos para Madeiras Nacionais,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo, Brazil Bol., No.31(2nd Ed.) Scheffer, T.C., Duncan, C.G.,1947,The Decay Resistance of certain Central American and Ecuadorian Woods,Tropical Woods,12(92, PP1-24 Slooten van der, H.J., Martinez, E.P.,1959,Descripcion y propiedades de algunas madeiras Venezolanas,Inst. for Lation Americano de Investigacion y Capaciticion Boletin,Informaturo Dirulgaturo 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. Timber Development Association Ltd.,1943,West Indian Locust (Hymenaea courbaril) and Cabreuva vermelho (Myroxylon,toluiferum,TRADA, Timber Leaflet,79 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1948,Notes on Ecuadorian Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information,35,pp5 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Tropical Woods,1968,Madeiras Comercias Brasileiras,Inst. Pesq. Tec. Sao Paulo Brazil Publ.,857 Volkart, C.,1965,Recopilacion dedatos sobre propiedacies y usos maderos del Bosque Tropical,de las Costa Atlantica de Nicaragua,Turrialba,15(1, pp43-57