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Blunting Effect
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
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Ocotea rubra

Trade Name
Determa

Family Name
Lauraceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Baaka, Bewana, Braloc, Cirouaballi, Determa, Grignon, Grignon franc, Grignon rouge, Grignon rougre, Ishpingo maraco, Laurier, Laurier canelle, Louro rojo, Louro rosa, Louro vermelho, Louru vermelho, Red louro, Surinam mahogany, Teteroma, Teteruma, Wana, Wane, Wanu

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

Common Uses
Barge fenders, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Roofing, Structural work, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The species occurs in the Guianas, Trinidad, and the lower Amazon region of Brazil. It grows on sandy or loamy soils in Guyana.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
White
Yellow
Pink
Purple
Orange
Reddish brown
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale red to pink
Pale reddish brown

The color of the heartwood is described as light reddish-brown with a golden sheen

Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
White to yellow
Different than heartwood
Well defined
Yellowish brown
Paler than heartwood
Grey
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood


Grain
Straight
Figure
Distinct (figure)
Other (figure)
Interlocked
Closed
Even
Wavy
Stripe (figure)

Straight
Distinct figure
Other figure
Interlocked
Wavy
Striped figure

An attractive figure is occasionally present on quartersawn surfaces

Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Fair to medium coarse


Luster
Medium
Lustrous
Pronounced


Natural Durability
Moderately durable
Resistant to termites
Very durable
Perishable
Resistant to marine borers
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Resistant to powder post beetles
Durable
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Very durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack
Moderately resistant to marine borer attack
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Heartwood resist, particularly to attack by white rot
Heartwood resistant to brown rot
Heartwood moderately resistant to dry-wood termite attack
Excellent weathering characteristics

Resistance to marine-borers is rated as similar to that of teak

Odor
Seasoned material has no specific odor or taste


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
Dry at a slow speed
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow
T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US
Schedule E - United Kingdom
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow


Drying Defects
Checking
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Collapse
Distortion
Splitting
Moderate surface checking
Moderate twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Moderate end spitting
Slight twist/warp
Slight end splitting
Moderate collapse and honeycombing
No cupping, generally
Slight spring/bow
No twisting or warping
Moderate spring/bow
Moderate cupping
May warp
May check

Air-Drying may cause the wood to check slightly and warp moderately. Kiln-drying may also cause the timber to check and warp.

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Slowly
Difficult
Moderate
Easy
Fairly difficult to dry
Air dries at a moderate rate


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Slow
Drying rate is slow
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 10-15 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber. The timber is exported regularly, and is imported from Brazil into Venezuela, Germany, China, and Japan.

Comments
A lesser-known-species from tropical America. It is superior to yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) in tension and compression perpendicular to grain, and is close to white oak (Quercus alba) in static bending and compression parallel to grain.

General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as poor

Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Slight dulling effect on cutting tools


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Easy to glue
Difficult to glue
Very good properties


Moulding
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Small
Medium


Nailing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Pre-Boring Recommended
Easy to nail
Holds nails well


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to plane
Slight dulling effect on cutting edges
Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising

It planes, turns, bores, moulds, and mortises rather well.

Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Sanding
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Suitable for slicing
Veneers moderately easy
Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts
Diifficult to veneer


Steam Bending
Moderate
Good


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Good results
Fairly good polishing characteristics


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Finish is generally satisfactory


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Max. crushing strength = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Volumetric = large
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large