Runge
15th May 2016, 08:45 AM
Hi Folks,
If you're interested in three South American heavyweights, I have some information for you.
Schinopsis brasiliensis = Soto, Brauna - This is the densest timber in Bolivia to the best of my knowledge. It should range from a density of 1.20-1.25g/cc. One of the things that makes this timber nice is that it reddens as it ages, particularly if it is exposed to UV radiation. Enclosed are two pictures of the boards that I purchased. They only come in 24mm x 112mm thicknesses and widths, respectively. My boards range from 72in to 84in in length. The bad news is that you will likely need to buy at least 100 bdft (superfoot) to get any. If you are interested, I purchased the boards from Nova USA Wood Products (http://www.novausawood.com/). For 155 bdft, I paid USD18/bdft. The picture of the boards in the trunk of my car has the color correct.
379400379401
Bocoa prouacensis - Boco, Yzerhart - This is one of the densest woods in the world. Bocoa is genetically adjacent to the genus Swartzia. Boco commonly reaches a density of 1.30g/cc making it likely the densest timber in the Clade Swartzieae (http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/research-data/resources/legumes-of-the-world/tribe/swartzieae). The US importer of Boco is in Orlando, Florida - Amazon Exotic Hardwoods (http://www.amazonexotichardwoods.com/). James Lie will soon be bringing in a fair amount of 4"-6" lumber from Suriname. As with any timber having a density of 1.30 g/cc, it's really challenging to use but nice boards can be quite beautiful. I'll post pictures when I get my boards (August??). Don't try to take Boco on a commercial flight - they will confiscate it. That's the voice of experience.
Libidibia sclerocarpa - Ebano de Mexico - This is old news but I thought that I'd post a picture of an L. sclerocarpa board. The typical density of this timber in 1.25g/cc. The only importer for this is Tropical Exotic Hardwoods (http://www.tehwoods.com/)but they typically only have turning squares.
379402
If you're interested in three South American heavyweights, I have some information for you.
Schinopsis brasiliensis = Soto, Brauna - This is the densest timber in Bolivia to the best of my knowledge. It should range from a density of 1.20-1.25g/cc. One of the things that makes this timber nice is that it reddens as it ages, particularly if it is exposed to UV radiation. Enclosed are two pictures of the boards that I purchased. They only come in 24mm x 112mm thicknesses and widths, respectively. My boards range from 72in to 84in in length. The bad news is that you will likely need to buy at least 100 bdft (superfoot) to get any. If you are interested, I purchased the boards from Nova USA Wood Products (http://www.novausawood.com/). For 155 bdft, I paid USD18/bdft. The picture of the boards in the trunk of my car has the color correct.
379400379401
Bocoa prouacensis - Boco, Yzerhart - This is one of the densest woods in the world. Bocoa is genetically adjacent to the genus Swartzia. Boco commonly reaches a density of 1.30g/cc making it likely the densest timber in the Clade Swartzieae (http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/research-data/resources/legumes-of-the-world/tribe/swartzieae). The US importer of Boco is in Orlando, Florida - Amazon Exotic Hardwoods (http://www.amazonexotichardwoods.com/). James Lie will soon be bringing in a fair amount of 4"-6" lumber from Suriname. As with any timber having a density of 1.30 g/cc, it's really challenging to use but nice boards can be quite beautiful. I'll post pictures when I get my boards (August??). Don't try to take Boco on a commercial flight - they will confiscate it. That's the voice of experience.
Libidibia sclerocarpa - Ebano de Mexico - This is old news but I thought that I'd post a picture of an L. sclerocarpa board. The typical density of this timber in 1.25g/cc. The only importer for this is Tropical Exotic Hardwoods (http://www.tehwoods.com/)but they typically only have turning squares.
379402