Common Names:   Guatambu Guatambu blanco Marfim Pau liso Pau marfim Purchase Guatambu / Pau Marfim

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The environmental status of the species within its natural habitat has been officially classified as Endangered in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992). 

Distribution
Pau marfim is reported to originate from South America, primarily Brazil and Argentina. It grows from northern Argentina through Paraguay to São Paulo state in southeastern Brazil. The tree is reported to grow at sea level and at elevations of up to 1000 feet (305 m). 

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

Most of the Pau marfim harvested is reported to be used locally, but adequate quantities are available for consumption elsewhere. It is reported to be sold at moderate prices on the N. American market in comparison to other imported hardwoods. The price is, however, reported to be higher than maple and birch. 

Tree Data
The tree is reported to grow to average heights of 40 to 80 feet (12 to 24 m), with trunk diameters from 12 to 48 inches (30 to 120 cm).

Sapwood Color
There is no contrast between the heartwood and sapwood.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is nearly white, pale yellowish-brown, or cream to lemon in color, sometimes with a grayish tinge and/or darker streaks. The wood is reported to have a superficial likeness to Sugar maple or Yellow birch, but it is much harder and more elastic.

Grain
The grain is straight, sometimes interlocked, and irregular.

Texture
The texture is fine to very fine and uniform. The size and appearance of earlywood and latewood cells are relatively uniform within each growth ring.

Luster
The wood has a medium luster.

Odor
There is no distinctive odor or taste.

Ease of Drying
The wood has a rather high volumetric shrinkage, but it reported to dry easily and readily. Air drying is reported to be expectedly slow because of its density.

Drying Defects
The wood is reported to dry with little or no degrade.

Kiln Schedules
T6 - C3 (4/4); T5 - C2 (8/4) US
Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom

US schedule T3-B2 has been suggested for 2.5 and 3 squares.

Movement in Service
The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning, and is reported to show only small movement in use.

T/R Ratio
1.91
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 heartwood is reported to have very low natural resistance to decay. It is vulnerable to attack by insects and is not recommended for exterior applications.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment, but the sapwood is treatable.

Veneering Qualities
Some Pau marfim logs are reported to be sliced into decorative veneers for paneling and cabinets.

Cutting Resistance
The wood has a low to medium resistance to sawing.

Blunting Effect
The wood exerts moderate to fairly severe blunting effect on cutting edges.

Planing
Tear outs may result in planing material containing irregular or interlocked grain.

Moulding
Tearing may occur in moulding when irregular or interlocked grain is present.

Carving
The wood is reported to have good carving characteristics.

Gluing
Gluing properties are rated as satisfactory.

Nailing
The wood is reported to nail well.

Screwing
Screwing properties are reported to be good.

Polishing
The wood has good finishing characteristics and can be polished to a high smooth finish.

Staining
Staining properties are reported to be good.

Varnishing
The material is reported to be rather easy to varnish.

Painting
The material is reported to accept paint rather easily.

Steam Bending
The wood has very poor steam bending properties due to its high strength.

Response to Hand Tools
The wood works well with hand tools.

Substitutes
The species has been suggested as a viable substitute for Maple (Acer ) and Birch (Betula ) because of similarities in appearance and uses. It is reported to be superior to Maple for flooring because of its high wear resistance, but Pau marfim is much harder to work and is reported to be stronger than necessary for cabinet work. The wood is also reported to vary widely in density, depending upon prevailing conditions at growth sites.

Strength Properties
The species has very high density. It is a very heavy wood. The wood is high in density.