Bubinga
Guibourtia Demeusei
Commercial names: African
rosewood, Kevasingo
Other names: Essingang (Camerron); kevanzingo, buvenga (Gabon).
Distribution: Chiefly from the Cameroon and Gabon, also from Zaire.
General description: The wood is medium red-brown with lighter red to
purple veining. The grain is straight or interlocked. In some logs the grain is
very irregular and these are converted to peeling into rotary cut veneers called
kevasingo. The texture is moderately coarse but even. Bubbinga has a specific
gravity of .88.
Mechanical properties: The timber has low steam bending qualities and
exudation of gum pockets is troublesome.
Working properties: The timber works easily with both hand and machine tools,
although gum pockets may cause difficulty. Interlocked and irregular grained
material tends to tear or pick up and a reduced cutting angle of 15° is necessary
for planning or moulding. There is a pre-boring; gluing may be difficult due to
gum pockets, but the wood stains easily and can be brought to an excellent
finish.
Durability: Bubbinga is moderately durable.
Bocote Cordia
alliodora
Other Names: Cype,
solera, ziricote, canaletta and cordia
Distribution: West Indies and Tropical America
General description: The heartwood is dull golden brown in colour with
variegated irregular marking and an attractive ray flecked figure on quartered
surfaces. It is straight grained, with a medium coarse texture. Bocote has a
specific gravity of .55.
Mechanical properties: Possesses medium strength properties in all
categories and a good steam bending classification.
Durability: Bocote is moderately durable.
Cherry,
Amercan Prunus
serotina
Commercial names:
black cherry; cabinet cherry
Other names: rum cherry; whisky cherry; wild cherry.
General description: Heartwood varies from rich red to reddish-brown,
with a fine, straight, close grain with narrow brown pith flecks and small gum
pockets, and with a smooth texture. Cherry has a specific gravity of .58.
Mechanical properties: The timber has good wood bending properties. low
stiffness, and medium strength and resistance to shock loads.
Working properties: The wood works easily with both hand and power tools
with only moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Cherry nails, glues, stains
and takes an excellent polish.
Durability: Cherry is moderately durable
Cocobolo
Dalbergia retusa
Other name:
granadillo
Distribution: West coast of Central America.
General description: The heartwood colour varies from rich red to an
attractive variegated appearance of yellow, orange and red streaks and zones,
which mature upon exposure to mello orange red. The grain is irregular and
variable, but has a fine uniform texture. Cocobolo has a specific gravity of
about 1.10.
Mechanical properties: This very heavy, tough, strong timber has high
mechanical strength in all categories but these are unimportant due to the
purposes for which the timber is used.
Working properties: Works fairly well with both hand and machine tools,
with a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges which must be kept very sharp.
A reduced cutting angle is required for planning or moulding, and the surface
can be rendered very smooth to the touch. It can be nailed and screwed easily,
but is difficult to glue. It takes stain and can be brought to and excellent
finish.
Durability: Very durable.
Goncalo
Alves
Astronium fraxinifolium
Commercial names: tigerwood
Distribution: Brazil
Other names: urunday-para, mura bois de zebre
General description: The timber is reddish-brown in colour, richly
mottled and with dark brown streaks and spots similar to rosewood. It has an
irregular, interlocked grain, with alternating layers of hard and soft material.
The wood is of medium texture. Goncalo Alves has a specific gravity of .95.
Mechanical properties: This hard, heavy, dense wood is stong in all
categories and is not used for steam bending.
Working properties: The timber is rather difficult to work with a
moderate to severe blunting effect on tools which should be kept sharp. The
contrasting layers of hard and soft material together with irregular or
interlocked grain requires a reduced cutting angle of 15° for best results.
Pre-boring necessary for nailing, but it holds screws well, glues easily and
finishes with a high natural polish.
Durability: Highly durable.
Kingwood
Dalbergia cearensis
Commercial names: violet wood, violetta
Other names: violete (Brazil)
Distribution: South America, chiefly Brazil.
General description: The heartwood has variegated colours with a
background of rich violet-brown, shading almost to black with streaks of
violet-brown, ark violet and black, sometimes with golden yellow, presenting an
unmistakeable appearance. Usually straight grained, uniformly fine textured and
lustrous. Kingwood has a specivic gravity of 1.2.
Mechanical properties: Although very strong and tough in all strength
categories, kingwood is chiefly used for decorative purposes as its use is
restricted by the small sizes available.
Working properties: Works well with both hand and machine tools with a
moderate dulling effect on cutters. If cutting edges are kept sharp a very
smooth finish is obtainable. Nails and screws hold wee, and the wood can provide
a fine, natural waxy finish.
Durability: The timber is durable.