Sample Data: Bulletwood

Data For: Manilkara bidentata
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Common Names
==================================
Acana
Aus
Ausabo
Balata
Balata franc
Balata gomme
Balata rouge
Beefwood
Bolletri
Bolletrie
Bulletwood
Chicozapota
Macaranduba
Maparajuba
Massarandu
Nispero
Pamashto
Paraju
Quinilla colorada
Red balata

Common Uses
==================================
Billiard-cue butts
Bridge construction
Domestic flooring
Furniture components
Heavy construction
Naval architecture
Shingles
Tool handles
Violin bows
Bent Parts
Bridge beams
Bridge joists
Building construction
Building materials
Cabin construction
Cabinetmaking
Chairs
Chests
Construction
Desks
Dining-room furniture
Drawer sides
Exterior trim & siding
Exterior uses
Factory construction
Fine furniture
Flooring
Furniture
Furniture squares or stock
Handles
Hatracks
Kitchen cabinets
Living-room suites
Mine timbers
Musical instruments
Office furniture
Parquet flooring
Radio, stereo, TV cabinets
Rustic furniture
Shafts/Handles
Sporting Goods
Stools
Sub-flooring
Utility furniture
Violin
Wardrobes

Numerical Values
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Category Green Dry Unit
============== ====== ===== =====
Bending Strength 27280 17310 psi
Crushing Strength (Perp.) 2480 psi
Max. Crushing Strength 8690 11640 psi
Static Bending (FSPL) 11120 15030 psi
Stiffness 2700 3450 1000 psi
Work to Maximum Load 14 28 in-lbs/in3
Hardness 3190 lbs
Shearing Strength 2500 psi
Toughness 265 in-lbs
Specific Gravity 0.85 1
Weight 81 67 lbs/cu.ft.
Density (Air-dry) 66 lbs/cu.ft.
Radial Shrinkage (G->OD) 6 %
Tangential Shrink. (G->OD) 9 %
Volumetric Shrink. (G->OD) 17 %




Species Distribution
==================================
REGIONS:
Central America
Latin America

COUNTRIES:
Brazil
Colombia
Dominican Republic
French Guiana
Guyana
Guyana
Mexico
Panama
Peru
Puerto Rico [US]
Suriname
Venezuela

Physical and Environmental Profile
==================================

Environmental Profile
The species is reported to be demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure globally, although it may be rare in certain parts of its range, especially at the periphery (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based mainly on the number of occurrences of the species worldwide).

Distribution
The growth range of the species is reported to include Cape Verde Islands, and it is also found throughout the West Indies, Panama, and northern South America. It is reported to grow in different forest types and topography, as well as tolerate soils of different quality.

Product Sources
Some timber from this species is reported to be available from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources.

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that the species is an important source of timber. It is usually exported at a low rate, and is also well known for its yield of balata or gutta-percha which is collected from tapped trees.

Small quantities of Bulletwood are reported to be exported because the tree is valued for its latex. Supplies of lumber are limited, and the material is usually available at high prices from the larger importers in the United States.

Tree Data
The tree is usually large, attaining heights of 100 to 150 feet, with diameters of 24 to 48 inches, (60 to 120 cm), sometimes reaching 6 feet (1.8 m). Trees are usually swollen at the base, and boles are often straight and clear to about 60 feet (18 m).

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is whitish or pale brown in color and is not clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is light to dark reddish brown in color. The color has also been described as dull plum red, somewhat resembling raw beef.

Grain
The grain is straight, sometimes slightly wavy or interlocked.

Texture
The texture is fine and uniform.

Luster
Luster is reported to be low to medium.

Odor
The wood has no distinctive odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
Generally reported to be difficult to air-season. Should be air-dried slowly to minimize defects.

Drying Defects
The material may develop severe checks and warp if it is not dried carefully.

Kiln Schedules
T1 - B1 (4/4) US

T/R Ratio
1.49
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with other drying information and actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The timber is rated as highly resistant to attack by decay fungi and subterranean termites. It has moderate resistance to attack by dry wood termites, and is reported to be susceptible to marine borer attack.

Resistance to Impregnation
The timber is reported to be very resistant to moisture absorption and to preservative treatment. Resistance to impregnations is reported to be higher than in Teak.

Weathering Characteristics
The wood is reported to have poor weathering properties, and surface-checks considerably when exposed to the weather without propection.

Toxic Constituents
The sawdust is reported to cause irritation in some individuals.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on cutting edges is rated as medium.

Cutting Resistance
Bulletwood is reported to be moderately easy to saw despite its high density.

Planing
The timber is reported to be moderately difficult to work, and is rated as fair to good in almost all machining properties including planing, turning, boring, moulding, mortising, and routing despite its high density.

Gluing
Gluing is reported to require special precautions.

Nailing
Nailing is reported to require pre-boring.

Sanding
Sanding qualities are reported to be very good.

Polishing
The material is reported to polish to yield smooth surfaces.

Steam Bending
Steam bending properties are reported to be very good.

Response to Hand Tools
Response to hand tools is reported to be good.

Comments
Bulletwood is reported to equal to or superior to Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei ) in shock resistance, hardness, shear, and bending strength.

Reference Sources
Numerical Data Source
Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and A.F. Muschler. 1952. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Descriptive Data Source
Chudnoff, M. 1984. Tropical Timbers of the World. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 607, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-marne, CEDEX, France.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Kline, M. 1979. Manilkara bidentata - Bulletwood. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 226-227.