The heavyweight and the lightweight

Lignum Vitae

I IGNUM VITAE is another of the l- Latin American species which has been extensively used practically from the time of discovery of the New World.

The wood was introduced to the medical profession of Europe about 1508 as a specific for many of the most serious ailments of mankind. Its reputation was so firmly established that for two centuries its therapeutic value remained unquestioned. Both wood and'resin are medicinally obsolete except in certain proprietary decoctions.

Guaiacum offtcinale, native to the West Indies, northern Venezuela, northern Colombia, and Panama, was for a great many years the only species used on a large scale. With the near exhaustion of commercial-size timbers of G. officinale, the principal species of commerce is now G. Eanctum. The latter species occupies the same range as G. officinale, but is more extensive and includes the Pacific side of Central America as well as southern Mexico and southern Florida.

The heartwood is distinctly green or olive-green and becomes very dark or even black upon long exposure. The sapwood is white or yellowish-white and generally shows distinct green vessel lines. The texture is very fine.

The grain is strongly interlocked, and shows a narrow and closely spaced ribbon strip pattern on quartered surfaces. Lignum vitae is perhaps the heaviest commercial wood and averages about 75 to 80 pounds per cubic foot in the thoroughly airdry condition. The heartwood has a mildly fragrant odor and a pronounced waxy or oily feel.

Theusual strength values have never been obtained for lignum vitae and this probably stems from the fact that it is utilized mechanically for its extreme hardness, durability, and selfIubricating properties. The hardness modulus of lignum vitae is about four times that of hard maple, and this extreme hardness permits utilization as a self-lubricating bearing material under relatively heavy loads. use in the United States averages about I I pounds per cubic foot. Balsa is the lightest and softest wood on the commercial market.

Shrinkage values are also not available. but because the wood is used primarily for underwater bearings, it must be utilized in its green or saturated condition and shrinkage values are of no consequence.

The most important and exacting use of lignum vitae is for bearings or bushing blocks lining the stern tubes of propeller shafts of steamships and submarines. The blocks are machined to conform to the curvature of the propeller shaft on one endArain surface, and on the other side to conform to the curvature of the propeller tube.

Numerous attempts have been made to substitute other hard, heavy woods for use as underwater bearings but none contain the high guaiac resin content which makes lignum vitae selflubricating and unique for this very exacting utilization. The gents Belnesia, which is a closely related genus belonging to the same plant family as lignum vitae, is very similar in many respects but also lacks the high guaiac resin content which is so essential for this particular use.

Story at a Glance

Probably the heaviest wood in the wofld, lignum vitae is compared with the other extreme, balsa, the lightest and softest wood on the commercial market.

Because the imported lumber is rather carefully selected in Ecuador primarily on the basis of density, little difficulty is encountered in further drying upon arrival in the United States. Some lumber is known to contain "pockets" of high moisture content and these are likely to collapse in drying, but because most of the lumber is predried in Ecuador, such lumber is generally excluded in the grading process.

Because of its light weight, balsa can be easily worked, but sharp tools are required to prevent crumbling under the cutting edges.

Balsa

D) ALSA is widely distributed fl throughout trqicai America from southern Mexico to southern Brazil and Bolivia. Ecuador has been the principal source of lumber since the time the wood gained commercial importance. Most of the literature relative to balsa refers to the species as Ochroma lagopus, but apparently the correct and proper designation is Ochroma pyramidale.

Balsa, within the density ranges imported, is highly efficient where buoyancy, insulation against heat or cold, or absorption of sound and vibration are important considerations. It is one of the best energy absorbers known. It is practically impossible to "waterlog" balsa and this is particularly true in the lower range of densities. Only the vessels, which are few in number per cross-sectional area, are capable of absorbing solutions.

Our thanks to the Forest hoducts Laboratory for their kind permission to rqrint the above info'rmotian.-ed

The wood is a white to a very pale gray and may show a pinkish cast. The texture is coarse and the vessel lines generally show prominently. Grain is straight or very shallowly interlocked. The wood rays appear prominently on quartered surfaces because of their darker colored contents. Luster is high and the wood has a very unique "velvety" feel. The wood selected for

The principal uses of balsa include all types of flotation gear, core stock in metal-faced sandwich construction. sound modifiers, aircraft models, and novelties. It is particularly important as an insulator in the transportation of liquified gases which are at extremely low temperatures. At these low temperatures the strength properties of the wood are higher than those obtained at normal room temperature.

Bladec, Blades & More Bladet

Simmons Cutting Tools has the following free catalogs: Simmons Hack' saw Blades; Circular Saw Blades (1 2-p.1' Hard Tooth Eand Saw Blades, (16-P.); Technical Manual for Band Saw and Hac ksaw Blade s, (20-p. ).

Free Reader Service

For more information on New Products and New Literature, write fDe Merchant Magazine, 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 476, Newport Beach, Ca. 92660. Please mention issue date and pag6 number so we can process your request faster! Many thanksl

Chrlrtmas Sale Catalog

American Wholesale Hardware Co', has released its 1975 Christmas Hardware Sale Catalog.

Gotta Match?

Duke City Lumber Co. has published a free "colol matching folder" for its Duracote line of jambs and trim for matching pre-finished doors; it matches door skins of major door maoufacturers with Duracote trim colors and includes names and addresses of about 75 door manufacturers.

Slt Rlght Down

North American Manufacturing Co. has a free, new brochure on their Namco SD series sitdown, electric lift truck.

Cost Savlngs Domonslrated

Sprinklered Wood Frame Construction is a new National Forest Products Assn. publication free in single copies.

Floorc, Walla & Roolr

A revised edition of an informative 8-p. booklct, "Plywood For Floors," is available now from the Arnerican Plywood Assn., as is"Plywood Sheoth' ing For llalls and Roofs" which delves into all aspects of wall and roof construction. Both are free.

The revised edition which is available from the American Plywood Association is an informative l2-p. brochure illustrated with charts, tables and diagrams. It spells out plywood's advantages in these systems plus information oa specifying, ordering and using plywood in a variety of applications.

For a free copy of this helpful publication, send your request for Form A3O to the American Plywood Association, I I l9 "A" Street, Tacoma, Washington 98401.

Now "Tempergd Glast"

Bel-Air Door Co., first with tempered glass in its Plaza, Jalousie, and Mo-Bel-Air units, illustrates them in their "Wonderful World of Bel-Air Doors" poster.

Forklllt Tralnlng

A comprehensive training Program in the operation of forklift trucks has been introduced bY the National Lumber Dealers Assn., $25.00 from one of their federated associations or from National, 1990 M St., N.\ry., $uite 350, Washington, D.C. 20036'

Home lngulation Eooklet

"How to Save Money by Insulating Your Home," by the National Mineral Wool Insulation Assn." is free in single copies from NMWIA, 382 Springfield Ave., Summit, N.J. 0?90 l.

Hardwood Tesl itanual

The Hardwood Plywood Manufacturers Association's Testing and Ingec- tion and Listed Products Manual provides a compilation of the wall paneling products listed by HPMA as of May l, 1975. Copies can be obtained from HPMA, P.0. Box 6246, Arlington, Ya.22206.

Flberglase Shlngles

A free brochure describing improvements to Johns-Manville Rampart and Fiber Glas's/3-Tab roofing shingles is available from the manufacturer.

Wall Board Adheslve

Contech Inc. has a new two color free brochure on its new wall board adhesive product.

f{AWLA On Dlstrlbutlon

The 1975-76 "Who's Who" of forest products marketing is now available at $5 from North American Wholesale Lumber Assn., Terminal Sales Building, Portland, Oregon 972A5.

The new 84-p. directory has over 50 new listings and over 200 updated company information changes, lists the over 500 members alphabetically, identifies their individual market penetration geographically, and describes their products and services. Personnel and communication inforhation is also provided.

When To Buy A New Roof

A free brochure which gives homeowners information on how to tell when the roof of their home needs replacing is available from JohnsManville.

Yersatlle Redwood Panals

The warm colors, wide range of patterns, textures and sizes, unique insulative qualities, combine to make redwood a favorite of architects and designers when specifying paneling for any building interior and are demonstrated in. a free new brochure from Simpson Timber Co.

Remodellng Answor Book

The 20-p. free color booklet, "Zfte Andersen Remodeling Answer Book," is available from Andersen Corp., Bayport, Minnesota 55003.

Hand Truck Llne

A new 4-p., color brochure bY Yale describes their hydraulic hand lift trucks.

Wood Waterprooflng

A new l2-p. technical bulletin giving complete daia on Pentaseal.and Pentagard water-repellent wood preservatives is from Zehrung Corp.

Glue-lt-Yourselt

Contech's Consumer Products Division has three new free color glue-ityourself brochures on their adhesive line.

Positions wanted 30d a word, minimum 25 words (25 words= $7.50). All othen 4O( aword, min.24 words (24 words = $9.60). Phone number counts as one word. Ads with border $1.50 extra. Headline or centered type $2.50 extra. Box numbered ads are $2.00 extra.

Heip Wanted

MANAGER needed for retail lumber yard in S. F. area. Long experience. Steady job. Write Box l7l, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

WANTED young man to learn softwood lumber sales. We will train you. Good beginning salary with long establislted company. Profit sharing after 2 years. Send resume. Write Box 183, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

ESTABLISHED lumber wholesaler firm in City of Industry, Ca. seeks experienced salesman specializing in industrial and retail sales. All replies confidential. Write Box 179, clo Ttre Merchant Magazine.

SALESMAN wanted for retail lumber yard in S. F. area. Long experience. Steady job. Write Box 172, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

YARD MAN experienced in milling, know pine grades, in charge distribution yard. Good pay for right man. So. Calif. Write Box 180, c/o The Merchant Magazine.

EXPERIENCED Fork Lift Driver, wholesale distribution yard. Overscale plus bonus to right man. Pension Plan, etc. Reply Box 182 c/o The Merchant Magazine.