Spotlight On: Goncalo Alves / Tigerwood / Jobillo
Brand Name: TigerDeck
SPECIES: Astronium spp.
ORIGIN: Mexico throughout Central and South America
COMMON APPLICATIONS: Most commonly used in exterior decking, as well as some flooring, furniture, cabinetry, carving, turned objects, specialty objects such as pool cues, archery bows, and knife handles, as well as electric and acoustic guitar building.
CHARACTERISTICS / APPEARANCE: Heartwood is typically a medium red-brown with irregularly spaced streaks of dark brown / black. Grains can be wavy, interlocked or sometimes straight; its texture is fine, with a good natural luster. The wood has a very high density, with impressive strength, stiffness, hardness, and durability, and generally excellent working properties. It can be difficult to glue, due to a high natural oil content. This resinous cell structure results in an incredible resistance to mold, fungus, and insects.
JANKA HARDNESS SCALE: 2,170 lb_f ●●●●○ (see chart on page 56)
COMMENTS: In the forest, this tree species is considered a "pioneer" to foresters, one of the first types of trees to germinate after fires, wind storms, or slash and burn agriculture, open the forest floor to sunlight. This is a very fast growing and short-lived species. The speed of growth is reflected in large cells and relatively wide average ring count of 5 rings per inch. This in turn can cause somewhat thin/fragile cell walls which can cause warp, cupping, and splits when exposed to the wide climate changes of hot/cold and wet/dry that occur in North America. However, careful kiln drying "sets" the resin in many cell walls and pulls most of the free water out of the wood. Once carefully kiln dried, it is very stable and does not shrink, expand, or 'move' much in service as a deck board.
Frequently asked questions
Why do foresters consider Goncalo Alves (Astronium spp.) a 'pioneer' tree species?+
It is one of the first types of trees to germinate after fires, wind storms, or slash and burn agriculture open the forest floor to sunlight. It is a very fast-growing and short-lived species.
How does Tigerwood's fast growth affect its performance as a decking material in North America?+
Its rapid growth produces large cells and a relatively wide average ring count of 5 rings per inch, resulting in thin, fragile cell walls. This can cause warp, cupping, and splits when the wood is exposed to North America's hot/cold and wet/dry climate swings.
How does kiln drying improve the stability of Jobillo wood?+
Careful kiln drying 'sets' the resin in many of the cell walls and pulls most of the free water out of the wood. Once properly kiln dried, it becomes very stable and does not shrink, expand, or move much in service as a deck board.
Why can Goncalo Alves be difficult to glue?+
The wood has a high natural oil content from its resinous cell structure, which makes gluing challenging. That same resinous structure gives it excellent resistance to mold, fungus, and insects.
What specialty applications beyond decking use Tigerwood?+
In addition to exterior decking, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, carving, and turned objects, Tigerwood is used for specialty items such as pool cues, archery bows, and knife handles, as well as electric and acoustic guitar building.
What is the Janka hardness rating of Goncalo Alves / Tigerwood / Jobillo?+
The species rates 2,170 lb_f on the Janka hardness scale, reflecting its very high density along with impressive strength, stiffness, hardness, and durability.