Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata)

Common Name(s): Spanish Cedar, Cedro

Scientific Name: Cedrela odorata

Distribution: Native to Central and South America and the Caribbean; also grown on plantations

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 30 lbs/ft³ (475 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .38

Hardness: 600 lb_f (2,670 N)

Bending Strength: 11,640 lb_f/in² (80,280 kPa)

Elasticity: 1,338,000 lb_f/in² (9,230 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.2%, Tangential: 6.3%, Volumetric: 10.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.5

Color/Appearance: Wood is a relatively uniform pinkish to reddish brown; colors tend to darken with age. Random pockets of gum and natural oils are commonly present. Grain patterning and figure tends to be somewhat bland.

Grain/Pore: Spanish Cedar has a medium texture and medium to large sized open pores. The grain is usually straight, but can also be shallowly  interlocked.

Durability: Spanish Cedar ranges from durable to moderately durable regarding decay resistance, and is also resistant to termite attack; the wood is also reported to have excellent weathering characteristics. Older, slower-growing trees from the wild tend to produce wood that is more durable than wood from younger, plantation-grown trees.

Workability: Spanish Cedar is easy to work with both hand and machine tools. However, due to its low density and softness, Spanish Cedar tends to leave fuzzy surfaces if not machined with sharp cutters; extra sanding up to finer grits may be required to obtain a smooth wood surface. Also, natural gum pockets can remain wet and may ooze out onto the surrounding surface, which can clog and gum up saw blades, and make finishing the wood a challenge.

Smell: Has a distinct, lingering, cedar-like scent; this characteristic of the wood makes it a favorite for cigar boxes.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Spanish Cedar wood dust has been reported as respiratory irritant. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Spanish Cedar should be in the moderate price range, considering it’s an imported lumber. Cost should compare similarly to other mid-range Latin American imports such as Purpleheart or Goncalo Alves.

Comments: A historically valuable Latin-American timber, Spanish Cedar has been exploited in many regions, and the species is now considered to be “vulnerable” (VU) according to IUCN’s Red List. It’s also listed on the CITES Appendix III for the countries of Columbia, Guatemala, and Peru. (It’s listing in Appendix III simply means that the countries listed have voluntarily chosen to control the exporting of the wood, and have sought the cooperation of other countries to help in enforcing these restrictions.) Spanish Cedar may still be freely exported from other Latin American countries not listed in Appendix III.

Spanish Cedar is closely related to true Mahoganies (Swietenia and Khaya genera), as both are in the Meliaceae family. Density and mechanical properties can vary widely depending on country of origin and growing conditions; (specific gravity can vary from .30 to as high as .60 in some instances). Some of the wood available at present comes from plantations: where younger, faster-growing trees, produce wood that is lower in density, and paler in color than wood cut from trees taken from forests in the wild.

Some common uses for Spanish Cedar include: veneer, plywood, cabinetry, musical instruments, (flamenco and classical guitars), humidors, and boatbuilding.

Related Species:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Spanish Cedar (sanded)	Spanish Cedar (sealed)
Spanish Cedar (endgrain)

Mopane (Colophospermum mopane)

Common Name(s): Mopane, Mopani

Scientific Name: Colophospermum mopane

Distribution: Southern Africa

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 77 lbs/ft³ (1,230 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: 1.00

Hardness: 2,940 lb_f (13,080 N)

Bending Strength: 17,760 lb_f/in² (122,490 kPa)

Elasticity: 2,031,000 lb_f/in² (14,010 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.0%, Tangential: 6.0%, Volumetric: 9.0%, T/R Ratio: ~2

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is medium to dark reddish brown, with black stripes. Color tends to darken with age.

Grain/Pore: Mopane has a fine texture and very small pores: filling is unnecessary; the grain is interlocked.

Durability: Mopane is rated as very durable, and is also resistant to termites and powder post beetles.

Workability: Mopane is generally considered to be difficult to work, mainly on account of its incredibly high density. Machining has a severe blunting effect on cutters. Mopane is excellent for turnery.

Smell: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.

Safety: There have been no adverse health effects associated with Mopane. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Likely to be somewhat expensive, exceeding the cost of most imported African hardwoods, with the exception of  the scarcer species such as Pink Ivory or African Blackwood.

Comments: Mopane is an often neglected and overlooked African hardwood, though its density and durability are virtually unrivaled. The wood is also said to have excellent acoustic properties, comparing similarly to African Blackwood—at a more economical price.

Some common uses for Mopane include: flooring, musical instruments (woodwind), turnery, fuelwood/charcoal, furniture, inlay, and exterior construction.

Related Species:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Mopane (sanded)	Mopane (sealed)
Mopane (endgrain)	Mopane (turned)