Cumaru Specs
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Description |
Color varies from a golden tan to a reddish brown. Dark grain accents can be present throughout the wood. |
Country of Origin |
South America |
Botanical Name |
Dipteryx Odorata |
Other Names |
Almendrillo, Brazilian Teak, Tonka, and Tonquin Bean |
Mechanical Properties |
Bending strength of 14,793 psi. |
Janka | 3540 - Over 6 times stronger than redwood and twice as strong as standard bamboo. |
Working Properties |
Difficult to saw and bore. Where severely interlocked grain is not present, the wood planes to a smooth surface. Because of its high density and oily nature, the wood glues poorly. It nails and screws well; pre-boring is necessary. |
Durability |
Cumaru is very durable. The heartwood has shown to be very durable in resistance to both brown-rot and white rot fungi. The wood has excellent weathering characteristics. |
Seasoning |
Cumaru is rated as easy to air-season with a slight tendency to check and with moderate warping; drying was uniformly rapid. |
Uses |
Outdoor Decking, flooring, cogs and shafts, heavy construction, barge and dock fenders, railroad crossties, pulp mill equipment, tool handles, bearings, turnery. A substitute for lignum vitae. |
Comments |
The Cumaru tree is cultivated in many areas for the tonka beans used as a flavoring, which have a vanilla-like flavor. |