Species Spotlights: Sandé, Tornillo/Cedrorana, and Garapa
Continued species profiles
Spotlight On: Sandé
Species: Brosimum utile
Origin: South America, Central America
Comparable to Other Popular Woods: Teak / Utile
Common Applications: Plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, carpentry, light construction, furniture components, and moulding.
Characteristics/Appearance: Heartwood and sapwood not demarcated. The wood is uniformly yellowish white to yellowish or light brown. Medium texture and interlocked grain with high luster. Easy to machine but tension wood can cause complications of fuzzy grain and tear out. The wood stains and finishes easily and presents no gluing problems.
Janka Hardness Scale: 903 lb_f (see chart on page 56)
Comments: Strength is comparable to Oak.
Spotlight On: Tornillo / Cedrorana
Species: Cedrelinga catenaeformis
Comparable to Other Popular Woods: The wood is comparable in strength to American Elm.
Origin: Peru, Brazilian Amazon region
Common Applications: Turned goods, furniture and furniture components, boxes and crates, joinery, millwork, interior plywood veneers, as well as beams, balusters, and musical instruments.
Characteristics/Appearance: Heartwood is pale brown with prominently marked red vessel lines. The heartwood gradually merges into the lighter colored sapwood. Grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with a coarse, uniform texture and moderate natural luster. Easy to work with hand or machine tools, yet due to its low density and interlocked grain, fuzzy surfaces may result from some machining operations.
Janka Hardness Scale: 950 lb_f (see chart on page 56)
Comments: Tornillo has the distinction of having some of the largest pores of any commercial wood in the world. It is also known for its strength and weather resistance.
"Garapa is a top tier wood in decking performance and longevity. It's honey color offers a distinctly different design option to other decking wood species." — Rick McKinney, Senior Vice President, East Teak Fine Hardwoods
Spotlight On: Garapa, Brazilian Ash
Species: Apuleia leiocarpa
Origin: South America
Common Applications: Exterior joinery, flooring, stairs, decking, dock and boatbuilding.
Characteristics/Appearance: Garapa is a fine grained wood with a light yellow to warm golden brown hue and darkens with age. It has a fine straight-grained, interlocked medium texture. This wood is fairly easy to work, despite its density. It glues easily and is very stable once glued. It saw, nails, and screws well with little to no blunting effect on tools.
Janka Hardness Scale: 1,650 lb_f (see chart on page 56)
Comments: Garapa is naturally water-resistant, less vulnerable to insects, rot and decay. With an excellent durability and a high resistance to daily wear, it has a long lifespan of 25 years or more. Garapa also features a Class A fire rating.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sandé wood used for?+
Sandé (Brosimum utile) is commonly used for plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, carpentry, light construction, furniture components, and moulding.
How hard is Garapa wood on the Janka scale?+
Garapa has a Janka hardness rating of 1,650 lb_f, making it a dense and durable hardwood.
Where does Tornillo (Cedrorana) wood come from?+
Tornillo, botanically known as Cedrelinga catenaeformis, originates from Peru and the Brazilian Amazon region.
What makes Garapa a good decking material?+
Garapa is naturally water-resistant, less vulnerable to insects, rot, and decay, and offers excellent durability with a lifespan of 25 years or more. It also carries a Class A fire rating and features a distinctive honey color.
What does Sandé wood look like?+
Sandé has no clear demarcation between heartwood and sapwood, appearing uniformly yellowish white to yellowish or light brown. It has a medium texture, interlocked grain, and high luster.
What is unique about Tornillo wood?+
Tornillo is distinguished by having some of the largest pores of any commercial wood in the world. It is also known for its strength and weather resistance, with strength comparable to American Elm.