Two prominent Brazilian hardwoods

BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD, JACARANDA

ri RAZILIAN rosewood has been Dan artrcte oI commerce tor several centuries, but amazingly, there are no technical data available for this species. It would appear that its early acceptance by the makers of classic furniture mitigated against the need for a thorough academic study of the wood properties. At any rate, Brazilian rosewood or jacaranda, as it is known in Brazi., still maintains its long established reputation as one of the most esteemed woods of the world.

Brazilian rosewood occurs in the eastern forests of the State of Bahia to Rio de Janeiro. Having been exploited for such a long period of time it is, at present, nowhere abundant.

The wood of commerce is very vari able with respect to color ranging through shades ofbrown, red, and violet and is irregularly and conspicuously streaked with black. Many kinds are distinguished locally on the basis of prevailing color. The texture is coarse and is commonly overlooked because attention is generally drawn to the color. Grain is generally straight. Heartwood has an oily or waxy appearance and feel. The odor is fragrant and distinctive. The wood is hard and heavy, thoroughly air dry wood is just barely floatable in water.

The strength properties have not been determined, but for the purposes for which Brazilian rosewood is utilized they are more than adequate. In hardness, for example, it exceeds by far any of the native hardwood species used in the furniture and veneer field.

The wood machines and veneers well. It can be glued satisfactorily, providing the necessary precautions are taken to ensure good glue bonds as with other woods in this density class.

Brazilian rosewood has an excellent reputation for durability with respect to fungus and insect attack, including termites, although the wood is not used for purposes where these would present a problem.

Brazilian rosewood is used primarily in the form of veneer for decorative plywood. Limited quantities are used in the solid form for specialty items such as cutlery handles, brush backs, billiard cue butts, and fancy articles 'of turnery.

Due to existing shortages of Brazilian rosewood, present day shipments may include wood of somewhat similar color but of finer texture, which belongs to the closely related genus Machaerium.Wood of the later genus is known in Brazil by the common name of caviuna.

Story at a Glance

Brief run downs on the characteristics of Brazilian rosewood (also known as jacaranda) and goncalo alves... both woods have long been well-known commercial species.

is grayish-white and sharply demarcated from the heartwood. The Pig' ment figure in these species is quite striking and very characteristic. The texture is medium and uniform. Grain is variable from straight to interlocked and wavy. The wood is very heavy and averages about 63 pounds per cubic foot at 12 percent moisture content.

Although the wood is in the high density class, it is not difficult to work with machine tools. It turns readily, finishesvery smoothly, and takes ahigh natural polish. The heartwood is highly resistant to moisture absorption and the pigmented areas, because of their high density, may present some difficulties in gluing.

The heartwood is rated as very durable with respect to fungus attack.

In air seasoning studies; goncalo alves is observed to dry at a fast to moderate rate. It is rated as moderately difficult to season. Degrade observed is moderate crooking or bowing accompanied by a sliglrt tendency to twist.

Checking is noted to be slight. Shrinkage is low, especially so in consideration of the high density of the wood.

Goncalo Alves

Because of their extensive growth range these species are known locally by a variety of names. The major and early imports of this wood have been from Brazil, where the commercial name is goncalo alves. This name has also been adopted by the U.S. trade. These species range from southern Mexico, through Central America into the Amazon Basin.

The heartwood is very variable with respect to color and ranges from various shades of brown to red with narrow to wide, irregular strips of dark brown or nearly black. The sapwood

The high density of the wood is accompanied by equally high strength values, which are considerably higher in most respects than those of any well known U.S. species. It is not expected, however, that goncalo alves will be im' ported for purposes where strength is an important criterion.

In the United States the greatest value of goncalo alves is in its use for specialty items such as archery bows, billard cue butts, brustr backs, cutlery handles, and for fine and attractive products of turnery or carving.

Our thonks to the Forest hoducts Laboratory for their kind permission to repint the above information.-ed

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