Araracanga (Aspidosperma megalocarpon)

Common Name(s): Araracanga, Volador

Scientific Name: Aspidosperma megalocarpon

Distribution: Mexico, Central America, and northern South America

Tree Size: 100-120 ft (30-37 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 59 lbs/ft³ (935 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .75

Hardness: 2,450 lb_f (10,900 N)

Rupture Strength: 22,060 lb_f/in² (152,140 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 3,041,000 lb_f/in² (20,970 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 12,830 lb_f/in² (88.5 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 5.8%, Tangential: 9.3%, Volumetric: 16.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Color/Appearance: Heartwood ranges from golden yellow to reddish brown, sometimes with violet/pinkish streaks. Yellowish sapwood not always clearly demarcated from heartwood. Color tends to darken with age.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight with a uniform medium texture.

Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium pores in no specific arrangement; exclusively solitary; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma not visible.

Durability: Durability can vary based on growing location: rated anywhere from moderately durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, though susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Overall easy to work, producing good results, though Araracanga has an above average blunting effect on cutters. Glues, turns, and finishes well.

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

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Araracanga has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: This wood is serldom seen for sale in the United States. Prices should be in the mid-to-high range for an imported species.

Comments: Araracanga, sometimes called Volador, is a close relative of more popular Peroba Rosa. Araracanga is slightly heavier, stronger, and of a coarser texture than Peroba Rosa.

Some common uses for Araracanga include: furniture, general construction (within natural range), flooring, boatbuilding, and turned objects.

Related Species:

• Peroba Rosa (Aspidosperma polyneuron)

Related Articles:

• Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification

Scans/Pictures:

Araracanga (sanded)	Araracanga (sealed)
Araracanga (endgrain)	Araracanga (endgrain 10x)

Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Common Name(s): Noble Fir

Scientific Name: Abies procera

Distribution: Pacific Northwest region of the United States

Tree Size: 100-180 ft (30-55 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 26 lbs/ft³ (415 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .37

Hardness: 410 lb_f (1,820 N)

Rupture Strength: 10,790 lb_f/in² (74,410 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,619,000 lb_f/in² (11,170 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,730 lb_f/in² (39.5 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.3%, Tangential: 8.3%, Volumetric: 12.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.9

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some drying defects may be present or occur while drying the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Scent: Generally has no odor, though some pieces may have an unpleasant scent when green.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Noble Fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including Noble Fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Many species of fir have excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios, especially Noble Fir, which rivals other softwood species such as Sitka Spruce (known for its combination of low density and relatively high modulus of elasticity).

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• European Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• White Fir (Abies concolor)
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
• Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
• California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Noble Fir (sanded)	Noble Fir (sealed)
Noble Fir (endgrain)	Noble Fir (endgrain 10x)

California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)

Common Name(s): California Red Fir

Scientific Name: Abies magnifica

Distribution: Primarily Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, but also in southwest Oregon

Tree Size: 100-150 ft (30-45 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 27 lbs/ft³ (435 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .36

Hardness: 500 lb_f (2,220 N)

Rupture Strength: 10,370 lb_f/in² (71,520 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,483,000 lb_f/in² (10,230 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,410 lb_f/in² (37.3 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.5%, Tangential: 7.9%, Volumetric: 11.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some drying defects may be present or occur while drying the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Scent: Generally has no odor, though some pieces may have an unpleasant scent when green.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: California Red Fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including California Red Fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Many species of fir have excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios, which rival other softwood species such as Sitka Spruce (known for its combination of low density and relatively high modulus of elasticity).

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• European Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• White Fir (Abies concolor)
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
• Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
• Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

California Red Fir (sanded)	California Red Fir (sealed)
California Red Fir (endgrain)	California Red Fir (endgrain 10x)

Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

Common Name(s): Subalpine Fir

Scientific Name: Abies lasiocarpa

Distribution: Mountainous regions of eastern North America

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 33 lbs/ft³ (530 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .31

Hardness: 350 lb_f (1,560 N)

Rupture Strength: 8,420 lb_f/in² (58,040 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,324,000 lb_f/in² (9,130 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 4,910 lb_f/in² (33.9 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 2.6%, Tangential: 7.4%, Volumetric: 9.4%, T/R Ratio: 2.8

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Scent: Generally has no odor, though some pieces may have an unpleasant scent when green.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Subalpine Fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of spruce and pine and sold under the more generic label spruce-pine-fir, or simply SPF. Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including Subalpine Fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• European Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• White Fir (Abies concolor)
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
• California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)
• Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Subalpine Fir (sanded)	Subalpine Fir (sealed)
Subalpine Fir (endgrain)	Subalpine Fir (endgrain 10x)

Grand Fir (Abies grandis)

Common Name(s): Grand Fir

Scientific Name: Abies grandis

Distribution: Northwestern United States and southern British Columbia

Tree Size: 100-200 ft (30-60 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 28 lbs/ft³ (450 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .35

Hardness: 490 lb_f (2,180 N)

Rupture Strength: 8,740 lb_f/in² (60,280 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,530,000 lb_f/in² (10,550 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,200 lb_f/in² (35.9 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.4%, Tangential: 7.5%, Volumetric: 11.0%, T/R Ratio: 2.2

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some drying defects may be present or occur while drying the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Scent: Generally has no odor, though some pieces may have an unpleasant scent when green.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Grand Fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including Grand Fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Many species of fir have excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios, which rival other softwood species such as Sitka Spruce (known for its combination of low density and relatively high modulus of elasticity).

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• European Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• White Fir (Abies concolor)
• Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
• California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)
• Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Grand Fir (sanded)	Grand Fir (sealed)
Grand Fir (endgrain)	Grand Fir (endgrain 10x)

White Fir (Abies concolor)

Common Name(s): White Fir

Scientific Name: Abies concolor

Distribution: Mountainous regions of western United States

Tree Size: 120-180 ft (37-55 m) tall, 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 26 lbs/ft³ (415 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .37

Hardness: 480 lb_f (2,140 N)

Rupture Strength: 9,700 lb_f/in² (66,910 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,485,000 lb_f/in² (10,240 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,740 lb_f/in² (39.6 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.3%, Tangential: 7.0%, Volumetric: 9.8%, T/R Ratio: 2.1

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some drying defects may be present or occur while drying the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Scent: Generally has no odor, though some pieces may have an unpleasant scent when green.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: White Fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including White Fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Many species of fir have excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios, especially White Fir, which rivals other softwood species such as Sitka Spruce (known for its combination of low density and relatively high modulus of elasticity).

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• European Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
• Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
• California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)
• Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

White Fir (sanded)	White Fir (sealed)
White Fir (endgrain)	White Fir (endgrain 10x)

European Silver Fir (Abies alba)

Common Name(s): European Silver Fir

Scientific Name: Abies alba

Distribution: Mountainous regions of Europe

Tree Size: 100-150 ft (30-46 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 26 lbs/ft³ (415 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .32

Hardness: 320 lb_f (1,420 N)

Rupture Strength: 9,590 lb_f/in² (66,130 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,200,000 lb_f/in² (8,280 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 5,950 lb_f/in² (41.0 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.0%, Tangential: 8.7%, Volumetric: 12.8%, T/R Ratio: 2.2

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition very gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

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

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Prices should be moderate throughout its natural range in Europe when harvested for construction lumber. Though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: European Silver Fir can be thought of as the Old World counterpart to North America’s Balsam Fir: they both share a number of similarities in both tree and wood.

European Silver Fir has historically been a favorite Christmas tree species in Europe, though today its mostly replaced with other species of fir and spruce. Resin from its bark has also been used for a number of traditional purposes.

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• White Fir (Abies concolor)
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
• Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
• California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)
• Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

European Silver Fir (sanded)	European Silver Fir (sealed)
European Silver Fir (endgrain)	European Silver Fir (endgrain 10x)

Pacific Silver Fir (Abies amabilis)

Common Name(s): Pacific Silver Fir

Scientific Name: Abies amabilis

Distribution: Pacific Northwest region of North America

Tree Size: 100-200 ft (30-60 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 27 lbs/ft³ (435 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .40

Hardness: 430 lb_f (1,910 N)

Rupture Strength: 10,240 lb_f/in² (70,620 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 1,681,000 lb_f/in² (11,590 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 6,060 lb_f/in² (41.8 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.4%, Tangential: 9.2%, Volumetric: 13.0%, T/R Ratio: 2.1

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually white to reddish brown, with pale sapwood that isn’t clearly distinguished from the heartwood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight, with a uniform, medium-coarse texture.

Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition gradual, color contrast medium; tracheid diameter medium-large.

Durability: Rated as non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, with little resistance to insect attacks.

Workability: Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some drying defects may be present or occur while drying the wood. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Scent: Generally has no odor, though some pieces may have an unpleasant scent when green.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, fir in the Abies genus has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: Pacific Silver Fir is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Prices should be moderate for such utility lumber, though clear, quartersawn, or other such specialty cuts of fir lumber are likely to be more expensive.

Comments: Fir is divided into different groupings, with the primary species in the western United States (including Pacific Silver Fir) all belonging to the white fir group.

Many species of fir have excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios, especially Pacific Silver Fir, which rivals other softwood species such as Sitka Spruce (known for its combination of low density and relatively high modulus of elasticity).

Some common uses for fir include: construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes.

Related Species:

• European Silver Fir (Abies alba)
• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
• White Fir (Abies concolor)
• Grand Fir (Abies grandis)
• Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
• California Red Fir (Abies magnifica)
• Noble Fir (Abies procera)

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Pacific Silver Fir (sanded)	Pacific Silver Fir (sealed)
Pacific Silver Fir (endgrain)	Pacific Silver Fir (endgrain 10x)

Tatajuba (Bagassa guianensis)

Common Name(s): Tatajuba

Scientific Name: Bagassa guianensis

Distribution: Northeastern South America

Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 50 lbs/ft³ (800 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .68

Hardness: 1,720 lb_f (7,650 N)

Rupture Strength: 17,930 lb_f/in² (123,660 kPa)

Elastic Strength: 2,752,000 lb_f/in² (18,980 MPa)

Crushing Strength: 11,440 lb_f/in² (78.9 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.4%, Tangential: 5.9%, Volumetric: 9.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.3

Color/Appearance: Color of freshly sawn heartwood ranges from bright yellow to golden yellow, darkening to a golden or reddish brown upon exposure to light. Pale yellow-white sapwood is sharply demarcated from heartwood. Quartersawn surfaces have a striped figure similar to Sapele’s ribbon stripe, though the stripes are much broader.

Grain/Pore: Interlocked grain, with a medium, uniform texture. Has a good amount of natural luster.

Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses occasionally present; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma vasicentric, aliform (lozenge).

Durability: Tatajuba has been reported to be durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, with good resistance to insect attack. However, it’s reported to have rather poor weathering characteristics.

Workability: Good overall workability, though pieces with interlocked grain may pose a risk of tearout during planing (particularly quartersawn surfaces). Also, its high silica content means that it will dull cutting edges faster than usual. Turns, glues, and finishes well.

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

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Tatajuba has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price/Availability: This is a lesser-known South American species, which does not occur too frequently throughout its natural range. Not likely to be available too often. Expect prices to be moderate for an imported tropical lumber.

Comments: The lustrous yellow color of Tatajuba has caused some to compare the wood to Yellowheart, but this color invariably darkens with time, very similar to Osage Orange. Thus, Tatajuba’s use as a fine hardwood for inlays and other colorful decorations is inhibited, and its uses fall more into the range of utilitarian rather than decorative.

Some common uses for Tatajuba include: flooring, decking, boatbuilding, cabinetry, furniture, veneer, and turned objects.

Related Species:

None available.

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Tatajuba (sanded)	Tatajuba (sealed)
Tatajuba (endgrain)	Tatajuba (endgrain 10x)

Chico Zapote (Pouteria sapota)

Common Name(s): Chico Zapote, Zapote, Mamey Sapote

Scientific Name: Pouteria spp. (P. sapota)

Distribution: Southern Mexico and Central America

Tree Size: 65-125 ft (20-38 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 66 lbs/ft³ (1,055 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .82

Hardness: 2,750 lb_f (12,230 N)

Rupture Strength: No data available

Elastic Strength: No data available

Crushing Strength: No data available

Shrinkage: Radial: ~5%, Tangential: ~8%, Volumetric: ~13%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Color/Appearance: Color ranges from a pink or red to a darker reddish brown. Pale yellowish sapwood gradually transitions to heartwood. Gum pockets are commonly found in this wood.

Grain/Pore: Grain is straight (or occasionally wavy) with a medium to fine uniform texture.

Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium-small pores in no specific arrangement; commonly in radial multiples of 2-6; gums and other heartwood deposits present; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma banded (numerous fine bands).

Durability: Reported to have outstanding durability and insect resistance.

Workability: Checking is common with this species, and even turning blanks are sometimes sold dry instead of green. Can be difficult to work on account of its density, and responds oddly to some machining operations, but generally produces good results. Moderate blunting effect on cutters. Turns and finishes well.

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

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

Price/Availability: Chico Zapote is a fruit tree, and isn’t usually harvested for lumber. Occasionally available, should be moderately priced for an imported wood.

Comments: This gum of the tree’s bark is used for chewing gum and other candies, and the tree is primarily known for its fruit, not its lumber. The tree is usually called Mamey Sapote.

Some common uses for Chico Zapote include: cabinetry, furniture, utility wood (within its natural range), turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.

Related Species:

None available.

Related Articles:

None available.

Scans/Pictures:

Chico Zapote (sanded)	Chico Zapote (sealed)
Chico Zapote (endgrain)	Chico Zapote (endgrain 10x)