jatoba

Jatoba, is often used in flooring but also ideal for stair treads, athletic equipment, tool handles, railroad ties, gear cogs and wheel rims. Can also be used for carpentry, cabinet making and general woodworking joinery.

The Tree: Leguminosae Family
Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril) grows to an average height of 120 feet with diameters of 2-4 feet. Jatoba is often referred to as Brazilian cherry although it is not a cherrywood, and has been called Locust or Courbaril in different areas of South America. It grows in most of the South American islands as well as Mexico, Brazil and Peru.

Wood Description:
The wood is an attractive burgundy, deep red, or orange, some of it has dark stripes, but not all. It has a texture similar to bloodwood. It is not as porous as mahogany but harder and denser. The heartwood varies in colour from a salmon red to an orange brown when it is freshly cut which darkens to a red brown when seasoned. Jatoba is frequently marked with dark streaks. The sapwood can be wide and is much lighter in colour - either white or pink and sometimes gray. The wood has a natural luster, with a medium to coarse texture. It has no obvious taste or odor. The heartwood is rated as only moderately resistance to attack by fungi and marine borers. The wood is relatively stable once it has been dried properly.

Weight: 56 lbs. per cubic foot.

Finishing:
Jatoba sands and finishes easily. Polishing can create a wonderful luster. It stains well.

Machining:
Moderate steam bending rating. Can be hard to work with, having severe blunting effect on tools. It is moderately difficulty to saw and machine because of the wood's high density and toughness. Experts recommend a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees, and the use of carbide cutters as much as possible. The wood's interlocked grain also causes some difficulty in planing. Jatoba has good gluing properties, but it nails badly and must be pre-bored before nailing. The screw-holding ability is considered good. Jatoba turns well.