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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Protium decandrum Trade Name Kurokai Family Name Burseraceae Common Names Alcanfor, Anime, Azucarito, Balsamo, Bois Encens, Breu Branco, Breu preto, Bálsamo, Carano, Chutra, Common kurokai, Copal, Copal caspi, Elimi, Fontole, Incense tree, Incienso, Kurokai, Latilla, Maruwa, Pom, Porokai, Sucuriúba, Tacamahaco, Tingimoni, Tingimonie, Waruwai Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela Common Uses Beams, Boat building: masts, 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, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, 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, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Paneling, Particleboard, Plain veneer, Plywood, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs throughout tropical America, and is most abundant in the Amazon basin. It is frequent in the marsh forests of Guyana. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow Purple Black Orange Pale red to pink Brown Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Pinkish brown Pale brown Occasional reddish-brown streaks may affect appearance Sapwood Color White Pink Brown Yellow Different than heartwood Well defined White to yellow Pinkish Paler than heartwood Same as heartwood Not always clearly defined Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Other (figure) Even Interlocked Straight Other figure Straight to shallowly interlocked Texture Fine Uniform Medium Resinous and oily Even or uniform Coarse Medium to coarse Fine Fine to medium Fine and uniform Luster Low Pronounced Slightly lustrous Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Vulnerable to dry-wood termites in the West Indies. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Resin Content Contains considerable amont of odorous, pale-colored resin in bark Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T3 - C2 (4/4) US T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C - UNited Kingdom Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Resin Exudation Splitting Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Gum Exudation Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderate Difficult Requires care to minimize seasoning degrade Dries rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Very slow Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 20-25 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced at a low rate. It is occasionally exported. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Resin in bark is used for incense and medicinal purposes Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Medium effect Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Requires strong hold to prevent chipping of exit holes Moderately easy Easy Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy in non-interlocked areas Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Interlocked grain effects mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Requires support at tool exits to prevent breaking out Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Moderate stability Medium Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a satisfactory finish Ease of planing is moderate Difficult to plane Areas of interlocked grain may cause tearing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is modertely permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Wood free from interlocked responds well Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing interlocked grain requires special attention Sanding Fair to Good Results Material with interlocked grain requires care Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Material with interlocked grain requires extra attention Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Difficult to veneer No drying degrade Good gluing qualities Easy to cut Bolt preparation requires steaming There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for peeling Gluing results are variable Drying degrade is often moderate to severe, with collapse, buckles, and splilts Steam Bending Fair to Good Results