Common Names:   Freijo Frei jorge Cordia wood Jenny wood Purchase Friejo

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The environmental profile of this species within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed. 

Distribution
Freijo is reported to occur in the Atlantic region of Para and in the Tocantins and Xingu River basins of Brazil.

Product Sources
It is currently unknown whether timber from this species is available from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources. 

The International Tropical Timbers Organization (ITTO) reports that timber production and export are reported to be regular. The timber is reported to be imported from Brazil into Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, England, and Bahrain.

Supplies of Freijo are reported to be adequate but only small volumes reach the United States and European market. It is reported to be priced higher for a timber of its quality, because of its limited availability. Freijo is very similar in strength properties to Teak, and is occasionally used as a substitute for Teak in building ships.

Tree Data
The size of the trees are reported to vary according to their location and corresponding prevailing conditions. They develop narrow buttresses that are about 6 feet (2 m) high, and are typically 40 to 60 feet (12 to 18 m) in height, with trunk diameters of 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm). Under the best growing conditions the trees are capable of attaining heights of up to 120 feet (37 m), and diameters of up to 36 inches (90 cm).

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is reported to be lighter in color than the heartwood, and is not clearly demarcated.

Heartwood Color
Heartwood is reported to bear some resemblance to Teak in appearance. It is golden brown to dark brown, sometimes marked with darker streaks. Lighter colored rays produce a contrasting figure with darker colored tissue in quartersawn material.

Grain
The grain is typically straight.

Texture
Texture is reported to be medium and uniform.

Odor
There is no discernible taste, but the wood is reported to have a spicy odor.

Luster
Under proper lighting, good quality timber is reported to exhibit a golden luster.

Ease of Drying
The material is reported to air-season and kiln-dry readily, with little degrade.

Drying Defects
There is a slight tendency for the material to distort and end split during drying.

Movement in Service
The wood is stable and exhibits only small movement in use.

T/R Ratio
1.75
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 material is reported to be durable. It has high resistance to white-rot and brown-rot fungi, and is moderately susceptible to attack by pinhole borers. The sapwood is susceptible to attack by powder post beetle.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to be resistant to preservative treatment.

Weathering Characteristics
Freijo is reported to have good weathering properties, similar to those of Teak.

Cutting Resistance
The timber is reported to saw fairly easily but it has moderate blunting effect on cutters.

Blunting Effect
The wood is reported to exert moderate blunting effect on cutters.

Planing
Sharp cutting edges are recommended for smooth planed surfaces.

Turning
The wood is reported to perform rather poorly in turning operations, and should not be used for turnery work.

Moulding
The wood is reported to perform rather well in all machining operations but requires sharp cutting edges to prevent grain from tearing out. 

Boring
End-grain material is reported to require adequate support during boring operations to avoid breaking away.

Mortising
Mortising properties are reported to be generally good, but end-grain material should be supported adequately to prevent break out.

Carving
Carving properties are reported to be generally good, but cutting edges should be kept sharp for best results.

Gluing
Requires filling, but gluing properties are rated as generally good.

Nailing
Nailing properties are rated as satisfactory, but pre-boring and thin-gauge nails are recommended since the wood splits rather easily. Nail-holding qualities are reported to be good

Screwing
The wood is reported to take screws satisfactorily, but pre-boring is recommended since the wood is brittle. Screw-holding properties are rated as good.

Polishing
The wood is reported to polish rather well after the grain is well filled.

Staining
For good staining results, the grain should be well filled.

Steam Bending
Steam bending properties are reported to be generally poor, but select material may bend to a moderate curvature.

Response to Hand Tools
Response to hand tools is reported to be good, but cutting edges should be kept very sharp to prevent grain from tearing.

Strength Properties
Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. It is fairly hard, resisting wear, denting, and marring fairly well. It is a heavy wood. The wood has high density.