 Lyptus® (Eucalyptus urograndis)
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Common Name(s): Lyptus® Scientific Name: Eucalyptus urograndis (Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla hybrid) Distribution: Grown on plantations in Brazil Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft3 (850 kg/m3) Hardness: 1,420 lbf (6,330 N) Rupture Strength: 17,110 lbf/in2 (118,030 kPa) Elastic Strength: 2,049,000 lbf/in2 (14,130 MPa) Crushing Strength: 8,640 lbf/in2 (59.6 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 8.2%, Tangential: 12.8%, Volumetric: 21.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6 |
Color/Appearance: Color ranges from a lighter salmon pink to a darker brownish red. Appearance has been likened to both Black Cherry and Honduran Mahogany. Color tends to deepen with age.
Grain/Pore: Has a medium texture and small to medium sized open pores. The grain tends to be straight and even. Also, since the wood is grown and pruned on a plantation, there tends to be few knots or other abnormal grain patterns.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium pores arranged in diagonal rows; exclusively solitary; tyloses occasionally present; growth rings indistinct; rays usually not visible without lens; parenchyma vasicentric.
Durability: Mixed reports, with most sources rating the heartwood as moderately durable in regard to decay resistance, though it is susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Generally easy to work, though it can burn easily. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Scent: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.
Safety: There have been no adverse health effects associated with Lyptus®. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability: Should be reasonably priced, especially for an import. (This is most likely due to the source of the wood: which is exclusively grown on plantations.)
Comments: Lyptus® is merely a trade name, which is a registered trademark owned by the Brazilian company Aracruz Produtos de Madeira (APM). The Lyptus® brand is marketed in the United States by Weyerhaeuser. The actual tree species, which is grown on Brazilian plantations owned by APM, is a Eucalyptus hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla.
In terms of mechanical/physical characteristics, Lyptus® has a very high shrinkage rate, and is likely to experience a fair amount of seasonal movement. The wood is relatively hard, heavy, and strong, though as a general rule, the paler pinkish brown boards tend to be less dense, while the darker reddish brown boards tend to be heavier and harder.
Common uses for Lyptus include: flooring, lumber, interior millwork, cabinetry, plywood, and turned objects.
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Lyptus® (sanded) |
 Lyptus® (sealed) |
 Lyptus® (endgrain) |
 Lyptus® (endgrain 10x) |
March 15th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I had some beautiful deep red 8/4 lyptus that I used for the base of my workbench. Machined well and finished gorgeously… but LOTS of splinters in my hands while I was working it. Wouldn’t hesitate to use it for some furniture if I got hold of some more!