Tropical Woods from Mexico

by Eugene Breeskin

cocoBoLo

Dalbergia, Legum. Western Mexico

Wt. 65-75 lbs. per cu. ft.

FAMILY: Leguminosae.' Most of the trees are subtropical although related to black locust and mesquite. Tropical timbers have been in the markets of the world for a very long time and are among the most valuable for cabinet work, carving and other purposes where beautiful woods are appreciated.

Many species are valuable for dyes, gums and resins, drugs and medicines.

SPECIFIC NAME: Dalbergia

Granadillo. Cocobolo is a valuable Central American timber which has been in use in the United States, particularly for handles of cutlery, for more than 65 years.

It was first introduced to the trade from Panama, but the principal sources now are western Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Heartwood may well be referred to as rainbow hued, but upon exposure to sunlight and air, the lighter colors merge into a deep brick-red with black striping or mottling. Weight: 62-76 pounds per cubic foot.

Cocobolo is one of the most important woods in the cutlery trade, being extensively used for knife handles because of its beauty of color and grain, fine texture, dense structure, ease of working and the presence of an oily substance which not only tends to waterproof the wood and keep its shape after manufacture, but also makes it very easy to polish. If the smooth surface is rubbed with a cloth, it acquires a waxy finish without the use of oil or wax. Prolonged or repeated immersion in soapy water has little effect on the wood except to darken its color, an important consideration in the case ofkitchen and butcher knives.

It is also extensively used for tool handles, brush backs, inlaying, musical and scientific instruments, steering wheels and expensive machinery. Some of the more figured wood is made into jewelry boxes, canes, marimbas, beads, forks, spoons, buttons, chessmen and other fancy articles. Common names throughout Central America are granadillo, nambar, hormigo and macacauba.

Story at a Glance

ldentification and description of four important tropical hardwoods from Mexico .... next month, we will present four more Mexican hardwoods as described and explained by Breeskin.

Goncalo Alves

Palo de Cera

Astronium

Anacardioceae

Primavera

Primavera

Roseodendrum

Bignoniaceae

Mexico

Wt. 40-50 lbs. per cu. ft.

This often has been erroneously called "white mahogany". When first cut, it is pale yellow or cream color which darkens with exposure to air and light, changing to a yellowish-rose color resembling Ceylon satinwood.

The sap of this tree rises and falls with the moon and the trees must be cut in the light of the moon when the sap is deep within the tree. Primavera also means "Spring".

Canalete

Bocote

Cordia-Boraginacea

Western Mexico

Wt. 65-75 lbs. per cu. ft.

Bocote This wood grows from Mexico to Venezuela but supply is very limited. The timber is considered excellent for veneer, fine furniture and turned objects.

The heartwood is tobaccoreddish with irregular brown streaks and variegations often resulting in striking figures. It has an oily, waxy appearance and finishes well in manufacture. It has limited commercial possibilities because of its scarcitv.

Elias Breeskin is a partner in a conxparly based in Mill Valley, Ca., and Mexico City, Mexico, that imports hardwoods from South of the border.

Wt. 60-70 lbs. per cu. ft. Palo de Cera Related to sumach. most of the goncalo alves sold in this country comes from Brazil. The wood is hard, heavy and famous for its glass-like finish. It is well suited for cutting into veneers. It has a rather pleasing figure and bears some resemblance to golden ebony or coromandel. It is noted for durability. The denser colored material can be used verv well for knife handles.

SOURCES:

Arboles Tropicales de Mexico, T.D. Pennington and Joe Sarukhan. National Institute of Forestry. Mexico, D.F., 1968. Tirnbers of The New World, S.J. Record and R.W. Hess. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn., 1972.

Know Your Woods, A. Constantine, Jr., Bronx, N.Y., 1959.

AFP Hardwood Llleralure

American Forest Products has prepared a number of product sheets covering each specie. In addition to a general description of each hardwood, these sheets contain such information as color, texture, grain, luster, weight, working properties, durability, strength and end uses.

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