Know Your Wood: Tigerwood

Tigerwood

This little stair jack used to bug me a great deal, but it's really grown on me over time.

Common trade names: Zebrawood, Tigerwood, Brazilian Tigerwood, Goncalo Alves

Genus: Astronium fraxinifolium, Astronium graveolens

Janka Hardness (pounds-force): 2250

Description: Known for its distinctively bold grain patterns and varied coloring, Goncalo Alves (American Tigerwood) features a moderate reddish/brown coloring highlighted by deep brown and black streaks in the grain pattern. Its strength lies somewhere in the neighborhood of Jatoba, and for comparative purposes, the strengths of North American Maple and Red Oak are 1450 and 1290 respecively. Tigerwood is still a very strong material. Takes finish and works relatively well, considering it’s stiffness.

Location: Mexico through South America

Common Aliases: Brazilian tigerwood, Jobillo (among turners preferring higher grades of Goncalo Alves)

Performance: It’s quite moisture-resistent, it’s hard to glue, it’s hard (easy in comparison to Ipe or Cumaru) to cut. Again, don’t take an air gun to this wood. I’ve mentioned this occasionally with other species, but as long as I’m fielding phone calls about this topic, please don’t attempt to use compressed tools with this species if someone else is in the room. If you’re looking to make a statement on a design project, Brazilian Tigerwood is hard to beat. It’s priced a little more moderately than our top sellers, and will yield many effective years of life. weather or pest. Do not use compressed air tools without wearing goggles, gloves, thick clothing, in an otherwise empty room, as the fasteners will be airborne and elsewhere once you attempt to nail this material. Pre-drill, then screw, and it holds remarkably well. Hidden fastening systems are a great alternative to face fastening for a cleaner presentation.

Acclimation: Please, always properly store and set aside your lumber! We can’t stress enough the importance of just a little patience when receiving your order. For air drying, simply allow a half-inch or so among parallel planks stacked and spaced by level. It’s that easy, and in two or so weeks’ time, the lumber is ready for installation in your climate!

Common Uses: I’ve seen some rain screen siding in Tigerwood that made a sharp architectural statement. We’ve sold Tigerwood predominantly for decks and shiplap cladding applications to this point, but its uses as a furniture lumber are more than adequate for the experienced woodworker. Once again, remember to purchase your wood kiln dried for interior applications only, if at all possible. For interior kiln dried lumber, uses include flooring, cabinetry, turnings, and Goncalo Alves can make for striking imagery in the finished product.

From: The Wood Database

Goncalo Alves (Astronium graveolens)
Common Name(s): Goncalo Alves, Tigerwood, Jobillo
Scientific Name: Astronium graveolens (syn. A. fraxinifolium)
Distribution: From Mexico southward to Brazil
Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 62 lbs/ft3 (995 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .80
Hardness: 2,250 lbf (10,000 N)
Rupture Strength: 18,400 lbf/in2 (126,920 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 2,404,000 lbf/in2 (16,580 MPa)
Crushing Strength: 10,710 lbf/in2 (73.9 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.0%, Tangential: 7.6%, Volumetric: 10.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.9

Know Your Wood: Cumaru

Cumaru

More reminiscing...

Common trade names: Brazilian Teak, Tonka, Southern Chestnut

Genus: Dipteryx odorata

Janka Hardness (pounds-force): 3540

Description: Cumaru lumber is produced from the same plant that yields Tonka Beans, a vanilla substitute, perfume, and tobacco products. The FDA recommends today one not eat the product. Heartwood ranges from medium to dark brown, and various hues of red and purple. Cumaru tends to lighten with U/V exposure.

Location: Native to the Orinoco region of Northern South America

Common Aliases: Brazilian Teak, Tonka Bean.

Performance: It’s oily, it’s hard to glue, and the grain should be pretty well aligned to have success with fine woodworking using Cumaru. A milled product should be fine for your exterior applications, but please remember this wood is very nearly as dense as Ipe, and Cumaru dulls blades and breaks bits at the same rate as Ipe.

Acclimation: Cumaru for an outdoor application should be kept on site, stacked and covered for 10-21 days prior to installation. Generally speaking, the wood will acclimate properly on the low end of this scale, but local climactic variations require a longer window.

Common Uses: Virtually any project requiring a resilient and durable outdoor project. From decks to docks, to railroad ties or pilings, Cumaru can perform as well as almost any other organic product. Furnishings, floors, turnings, and cabinetry are other common uses for interior applications.

From: The Wood Database

Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)
Common Name(s): Cumaru, Brazilian Teak, Tonka Bean
Scientific Name: Dipteryx odorata
Distribution: Northern South America
Tree Size: 130-160 ft (40-50 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 68 lbs/ft3 (1,095 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .86
Hardness: 3,540 lbf (15,750 N)
Rupture Strength: 24,840 lbf/in2 (171,280 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 3,020,000 lbf/in2 (20,830 MPa)
Crushing Strength: 13,460 lbf/in2 (92.8 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 5.0%, Tangential: 7.6%, Volumetric: 12.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.5

Know Your Wood: Ipe

Ipe

A nice reminder of our 2011 website...

Common trade names: Brazilian Walnut and Ipe refer to several species of the Genus Tabebuia.

Genus: Tabebuia spp.

Janka Hardness (pounds-force): 3680

Description: Ipe is the hardest easily available tropical hardwood we offer. Its hues are generally an olive-brown, and the density of the lumber is quite impressive. Be prepared, as the grain pattern can be all over the place with this species. It’s as hard and durable as anything you’ll find.

Location: Central and South America

Common Aliases: Ironwood©, Pau d’Arco, Yellow Poui, Betharbara

Performance: It’s oily, it’s hard to glue, it’s hard to cut, and it will break every bit in your set. That said, once installed it’s awfully hard to beat. Many designers, builders, and homeowners regard this as an investment grade wood due to its ability to resist decay by weather or pest. Do not use compressed air tools without wearing goggles, gloves, thick clothing, in an otherwise empty room, as the fasteners will be airborne and elsewhere once you attempt to nail this material. Pre-drill, then screw, and it holds remarkably well. Hidden fastening systems were made for lumbers such as Ipe and Cumaru. Use air dried Ipe for outdoor projects, kiln dried for your indoor flooring and cabinetry applications.

Acclimation: Ipe for an outdoor application should be kept on site, stacked and covered for 10-21 days prior to installation. Generally speaking, Ipe will acclimate properly on the low end of this scale, but local climactic variations require a longer window.

Common Uses: Ipe is as hard as they come, and has been proven to withstand the rigors of nature. Ipe is our top selling wood, and is used in rainscreen siding applications, shiplaps, decks, docks, and more. For interior applications, flooring, cabinetry, turnings, and virtually any other project requiring a strong and durable lumber.

Specs below from: The Wood Database

Common Name(s): Ipe, Brazilian Walnut
Scientific Name: Tabebuia spp. (Tabebuiaguayacan, T. serratifolia, etc.)
Distribution: Tropical Americas (Central and South America)
Tree Size: 100 ft (30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 73 lbs/ft3 (1,175 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .91
Hardness: 3,680 lbf (16,370 N)
Rupture Strength: 26,190 lbf/in2 (180,600 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 3,167,000 lbf/in2 (21,840 MPa)