Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba)

Hymenaea courbaril

Sample is square-edged solid strip. Top portion is finished with a water-based urethane; the bottom with an oil-modified polyurethane.

Appearance
COLOR: Sapwood is gray-white; heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown when fresh, and becomes rus-set or reddish brown when seasoned; often marked with dark streaks.
GRAIN: Mostly interlocked; texture is medium to rather coarse.
VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES: Moderate to high color variation.

Properties
HARDNESS (JANKA): 2350; 82% harder than Northern red oak.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: Average (change coefficient .00300; 19% more stable than red oak). However, actual installations have demonstrated significant movement in use.
DURABILITY: Dense and very strong.

Workability
SAWING/MACHINING: Sawing is difficult due to high density; requires frequent resharpening of tools. Planing is difficult due to interlocked grain. Can be machined to a smooth surface. Carbide tooling recommended.
SANDING: Sands well.
NAILING: Good holding ability, but due to hardness may require adjustment of angle of penetration and/or height.
FINISHING: No known problems.
COMMENTS: Light-sensitive; darkens rapidly upon exposure to sunlight.

Cost (relative to plainsawn select red oak)
MULTIPLIER: 1.30

Availability
Readily available.

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