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Tropical Woods from Mexico

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New Fn@du@ts

New Fn@du@ts

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.

Rsdwood Exteriorr Brochure

A new full-color, 8-p. brochure from Simpson Timber presents ideas for exteri6r use of redwood, utilizing lumber from clear all hear{ to the garden, or common, grades; completed projects, ranging from condominiums and commercial structures to remodeled buildings, outdoor amenities, lighting standards. and other accents. Architectural details are shown.

Handy-Van Brochure

Complete specifications and information about the new Handy- Van/Heavy-Duty commercial vehicies from Champion Home Builders Co. are in a 6-p. free brochure describing both the 24' and the 28' modgls.

Paint Ad, Promo Guide

Personal delivery by salesmen of the 1974 version of the Pratt & Lambert "Annusl Guide to Profttable Paint Pronkttio,t" has been completed. Furnished a$ two separate manuals, an ldea Book and Clip Art Book, the guide provides store managers and clerks with complete information on all advertising and promotion programs planned for the entrre year.

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The National Particleboard Assn. has a free bulletin on direct printing and finishing of particleboard that covers the choice 6f th'e substrate and the preparation of its surface, and seven steps in the fi.nishing schedule from base coating through to the final drying process.

Tech Reportr

These two reports have been published by the Forest Products Research Society, 50c ea., Dept. 2, 2801 Marshall Ct., Madison, WI 53705. (Payment to accompany request.)

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Small Bucinest Economics

"The Common Sense Economics of Small Business", by George Wedemeyer, (509) is part of the continuing manasement aid series from the Natioi'al Association of WholesalerDistributors.

A Stlcky Wicket?

A new catalog featuring the complete line of Webtex brand adhesive products is available lrom Essex Chemical Corp. It details the five maior adhesive categones.

Marlite 10' Planke

A full-color catalog page, providing detailed product inlormation on Marlite's new l0' plank series, shows the five woodgrain and four designer planks, as well as harmonizing moldings. The l6"xl0' t&g planks are installed with concealed metal clips and wallboard adhesive over old walls or new framing,

Certain-Tsed'r Complete Line

An l8-p. booklet descibing in detail the expanding line of building products by Certain-teed Products is ttow available.

Know the Ropee

The extensive line of Samson Braided awning cords, clotheslines, sash cords and utility ropes is described in their free hardware division catalog. Over 35 brands are listed.

Nevama/s 1974 Full-Line

A new lull-color, 8-p. folder displaying the entire 1974 collection of Nevamar high-pressure plastic laminates is now available from Exxon Chemical Co. It includes color reproductions of each Nevamar laminate design and color, highlighted by their extensive line of special and dimensional finishes.

Steel Framlng Report

" Framing with Steel" is a new 4-p. Steel Residential Builder Report by the American Iron and Steel Instituts. The two-color brochure describes the total method of steel framing in residential and light construction including the reasons for the rise of steel framing.

Metric Gulde

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A fast and economical approaeh to solving between-floor noise problems in low-rise apartments, townhouses and condominiums is discussed in a new 4-p. brochure that describes the Kaiser FirTex Carpet Board floor/ceiling systema wood-joist system - which claims to effectively control transmissions of airborne and impact sound.

Chain Saw Prolecte

A new $1.25 booklet ftom Homelite illustrates 22 different projects that can be built using a lightweight chain saw. Each has been designed so it can be completed within a single weekend.

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A 2-p. bulletin that illustrates typical d-i-y projects the handyman can make easily with Harvel Lifetime Vinyl boards and 'posts is available from Harvel Plastiis, Inc. Detailed material lists and instructions are included for patio tables, a backyard screen, cold frame or seed bed, shelving, lamp or sign posts, and others.

Fiberglars Shinglec

Woodlands laminated fiberglass shineles for residential use are described in a new 4-p. Johns-Manville brochure. It points out how a double layer offiberglass extends the life of the 285-lb. shingles, available in six warm colors.

Tlmber Constructlon. Manual

The second edition of the "Timber Construction Manual", by the American Institute of Timber Construction, is now available from the publishers, John Ytf9v,{^Sons, Inc., 605 3rd Ave., N.Y.. N.Y. 10016, at $15 per copy.

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