Product Sources |
Some material from this species is reported to be available from sustainably managed, salvaged, recycled, or other environmentally responsible sources.
The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that timber from this species is produced at a regular rate. Exportation is also reported to be regular.
Greenheart is reported to be marketed principally in Europe, with only limited quantities coming to the US market. It is reported to be available only in the lumber form from a few principal importers, and is typically priced in the expensive range.
The following species in the database is reported to be superior to Greenheart in all properties except hardness and strength in tension perpendicular to grain:
Tonka (Dipteryx odorata )
The following species in the database is reported to be equal or superior to Greenheart in resistance to shock, hardness, shear strength, and strength in bending:
Bulletwood (Manilkara bidentata )
The following species in the database has been suggested as potential substitute for Greenheart:
Okan (Cylicodiscus gabunensis ) |
Tree Data |
These large, evergreen trees usually attain heights of 75 to 125 feet (23 to 38 m), with average trunk diameters of 36 inches (90 cm). The tree is unbuttressed, and develops straight, clear, cylindrical boles that are 50 to 80 feet (15 to 24 m) long. |
Sapwood Color |
The sapwood is pale yellow or greenish in color, and is not very distinct from the heartwood. |
Heartwood Color |
The heartwood varies considerably in color, from yellowish green to golden-yellow, light olive, dark olive, yellowish brown, or dark brown to black. Decayed or defective logs have a yellowish color. |
Grain |
The grain is straight to roey. |
Texture |
The texture is fine and uniform, and the wood is usually free from knots and other defects. |
Luster |
The wood is lustrous. |
Odor |
Seasoned material has no distinct odor or taste. |
Movement in Service |
Seasoned timber is reported to undergo moderate dimensional changes in response to fluctions in atmospheric conditions. |
Natural Durability |
The heartwood is reported to have excellent resistance to pinhole borers, marine borers, and dry-wood termites. It is reported to be well suited for salt water applications. Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by pinhole borers. Greenheart is acidic, and has a slight corrosive effect on iron and iron compounds under moist conditions.
Resistance to Impregnation
The timber is reported to be impermeable to preservatives. |
Toxic Constituents |
Some individuals may be allergic to the sawdust from machining operations. Wood splinters are also reported to be poisonous. |
Strength Properties |
It has exceptionally high bending strength and crushing strength. It is hard and exceptionally heavy, and density is very high. Greenheart is reported to be two times harder than Oak, two times stronger in bending, compression parallel to grain, and resistance to shock, and more than twice as stiff. |
Green Heart Working Properties
| Working Properties for: Ocotea rodiaei |
|
Blunting Effect |
Blunting effect on cutting edges is rated as moderate to high. |
Cutting Resistance |
Cutting resistance is reported to be generally high, and logs tend to split with considerable force and noise in the initial stages of sawing. To prevent this a chain is usually wrapped around the sawed section of the log. |
Planing |
A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for planing because of interlocked grain and high density. |
Turning |
Although turning qualities are rated as very good, the wood is not recommended for turnery work. |
Moulding |
The timber is reported to be difficult to work in moulding, mortising, boring, and routing operations. End grain material is liable to break out or splinter. Splinters are reported to be poisonous. |
Carving |
Carving characteristics are reported to be rather poor. |
Gluing |
Gluing properties are reported to be variable, but are generally good. |
Nailing |
The material is reported to require pre-boring. |
Polishing |
The timber is reported to polish to a lustrous finish. |
Staining |
Staining is reported to be seldom required. |
Steam Bending |
Greenheart is reported to have moderate steam bending properties but it is not recommended for that application. |
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Green Heart Information on Drying
| Drying for: Ocotea rodiaei |
|
Ease of Drying |
The timber is reported to dry slowly with some degrade. Thicker stock (over 1 inch or 25 mm) should be air-dried before kiln drying. |
Drying Defects |
Degrade can be considerable especially in thick material. Warping is reported to be slight but the material has a marked tendency to check and end-split. Existing shakes may extend and knots may split. |
Kiln Schedules |
T2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US
Schedule B - United Kingdom |
T/R Ratio |
1.11
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). |
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