Common Names:   Paela Purchase Chakte Viga

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The species is reported to be generally secure within its natural habitat in most areas in its range, including French Guiana, Guyana, and Surinam, but it occurs in very small quantities within its range in Panama and is classified as Vulnerable. Its status in the wild is currently reported to be unknown because of insufficient information in the Caribbean Islands, Cuba, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992).

Although the species may be quite rare in some parts of its range it is reported to be rather abundant and widespread within most of its range (Source - The Nature Conservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based mainly on the number of occurrences of the species worldwide) .

Distribution
The natural range of the species is reported to include the Cape Verde Islands. It is also reported to be widely distributed from Belize along the Atlantic coast of Central America (also on the Pacific slope in Costa Rica). It grows in South America, from Colombia to Brazil, Ecuador, and Amazonian Peru. It is also found in eastern Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Winward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago. The species is reported to be very common on swampy ground, on the edges of mangrove swamps, along river banks, and in seasonally or permanently flooded low-lying wet forests. In Brazil the tree is reported to thrive on both terra firma and on varzea land. It is normally found from sea level to altitudes of about 1150 feet (350 m), although in Ecuador and Venezuela it may occur on mountain slopes at elevations of up to 4590 feet (1400 m). 

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

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that the species is an important source of timber. Square-edged timber is an important export material. 

The timber is reported to be more abundant in supplies than Honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla ). Although it is not as available through hardwood suppliers in the U.S. and Europe as the true mahoganies (Swietenia and Khaya ), the timber is reported to be less expensive, when available. It is more apt to be found growing in pure stands, and is reported to still occur in enough numbers to be used for construction in some areas within its natural range.

Tree Data
The tree is reported to reach heights of 170 feet (52 m), with trunk diameters of 60 to 72 inches (150 and 180 cm). Well-formed boles above small buttresses are reported to reach lengths of up to 50 feet (15 m). 

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is yellowish to white and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Heartwood Color
The color of the heartwood is reported to vary. It is initially light salmon to reddish orange brown, or pale pink to rich red-brown, but ages to a fairly uniform reddish orange.

Grain
The grain is usually straight but is sometimes interlocked or roey.

Texture
The wood has a medium to fine  texture.

Luster
Wood luster is reported to range from medium to high.

Odor
There is no characteristic odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
Slow drying rates are recommended, and a low temperature, high humidity schedule is suggested for best results. The timber is reported to be more difficult to dry than Honduras mahogany.

Drying Defects
The wood has a tendency to split during the initial stages of kiln-drying. It is also liable to check and collapse. Bowing and cupping may occur but are usually not serious. High tangential to radial shrinkage ratio makes warping a very serious threat during drying.

Kiln Schedules
T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US
Schedule C; United Kingdom

Movement in Service
The timber is reported to be dimensionally stable after drying, and exhibits only small movement in use.

T/R Ratio
2.11
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The timber is reported to be vulnerable to attack by dry-wood termites and powder-post beetles. Logs are reported to be highly susceptible to attack by pin-hole borers.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to be resistant to impregnation.

Weathering
Weathering characteristics are reported to be comparable to those of the Mahoganies (Swietenia and Khaya ).

Blunting Effect
The timber is reported to exert slight to moderate blunting effect on cutting tools.

Cutting Resistance
Cutting resistance is low and the wood is reported to have satisfactory sawing characteristics.

Planing
Reported to be easy to plane but a reduced angle of 15 degrees is recommended when working material with interlocked grain. It is reported to be more difficult to work than either Honduras or African mahogany since it is more dense.

Turning
The wood is reported to turn well, and has been compared to Sugar maple and Cherry in that respect. 

Moulding
The wood can be moulded or shaped easily.

Boring
Boring properties are rated as good. 

Routing & Recessing
The timber is reported to respond well to routing operations. 

Mortising
Mortising characteristics are reported to be good. 

Carving
The material is reported to carve well. 

Gluing
The wood is reported to glue well.

Nailing
The wood is reported to have poor nailing. Pre-boring is recommended to prevent splitting.

Screwing
Screwing qualities are reported to be good. 

Sanding
Crabwood is reported to respond well to sanding.

Polishing
The timber is reported to polish to a smooth finish. 

Staining
Crabwood is reported to require fewer coats of stain to achieve the same surface smoothness than Honduras mahogany.

Varnishing
Varnishing properties are rated higher than those of Honduras mahogany. 

Painting
The wood is reported to take paint well. 

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