More on Tropical Woods from Mexico

by Eugene Breeskin

Guanacaste

Parota

Enterolobium Legum. Mim.

Mexico

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

This tropical wood resembles walnut and is widely used for veneers and cabinet making. The wood is very durable in water. It was introduced in about 1910 and was sold under the names juana costa mahogany, conacaste, jenisero and Mexican walnut.

The heartwood is brown with various shadings, sometimes with a reddish tinge. It is unusually easy to work, finishes smoothly, holds its place well in manufacture and is fairly durable.

Lingnum Vitae

Guayacan Zygophyllacae

Mexico

Wt. 70-80 lbs. per cu. ft.

Guayacan The species of wood grown mostly on the west coast of tropical Central America is considered to be the heaviest wood in existence. Its density is about the same as iron. The heartwood is greenish black.

Applications of lignum vitae can be found in almost every industry. Some uses are: bearings in machinery, underwater bearings for ships, rollers, thrust blocks for propeller shafts, guides for band saws, mallets, wheels and casters. Growth is slow, the trunk increasing about 4 inches every four years. The largest log on record was nine feet long, 36 inches in diameter and weighed 4,260 pounds. receives a beautiful polish and takes glue very well. Because of its color, it is usually referred to, by the Indians. as bloodwood.

The great strength and tenacitY of the wood combined with selflubricating properties make this wood especially adapted for bearings under water. Steel and tube mills are using Iignum vitae in increasing amounts to replace metal bearings as the initial cost is less than metal, the life being several times longer and lubricating is unnecessary.

Lignum vitae means "Tree of Life".

Story at a Glance

Four more tropical hardwoods from South of the border are identified and described see last month's issue, p.46, for four others.

EBONY

Ebano

Pithecellobium, Legum., Mim.

Mexico

Capomo

Ojoche

Brosiumum-Moraceae

Mexico

Wt. 45-55 lbs. per cu. ft.

Eugene Breeshin is a partner in a company based in MiIl Vallqt, Ca., and Mexico City, Mexico, that imports hardwoods from South of the border.

Ojoche Another Central American hardwood, known for its striking veneer. Here is a description: "It has a satin lustre and there are different hues and colors varying from grey to a rich strawberry red overlaid with a golden sheen".

It is obtainable only in small Iogs, rarely over eight inches in diameter and is straight-grained, fine textured, hard and heavy,

Wt. 70-80 lbs. per cu. ft. Ebony has always commanded the highest price in hardwood. Because of its rich dark colors and extreme heavy weight, ebony is very much used in cabinet work, instrument making and decorative turning and inlaying. A process very similar to fossilization gives ebony its valuable heartwood. Accordingly, the heartwood is very brittle and delicate to work, but it has long been esteemed and its use can be traced back to early Egyptians who probablY obtained it from Abyssinia. Ebony from India was well known to the Greeks prior to 350 B.C.

The only commercial eboi,y produced in the United States rs persimmon. Ebony means "Food of the Gods".