Timber Species
Wamara

Scientific Name:
Swartzia Leiocalycina Benth

Family: Caesalpiniaceae

ATIBT Standard Name: Ferreol

Other Name: Montouchi, Panacoco, Saboarana

Wood Appearance: Heartwood chocolate to purplish-brown with darker purple streaks, giving the wood an attractive appearance.

• Sapwood - white/ pale in colour, sharply demarcated from heartwood; sapwood and heartwood often used in furniture to give two-toned effect.
• Texture - fine.
• Grain - straight sometimes irregular.
• Bole - 60-70 feet long, cylinderical; diameter 16-20 inches.

Physical and Mechanical Properties: Very hard, very heavy wood. Medium movement. Excellent mechanical strength.

• Weight - 1000-12000 kg/m3 (62-75 lb/ft3 ) seasoned.
• Bending Strength -
• Modulus of elasticity -
• Compression parallel to grain -
• Shock resistance -

Natural Durability: Heartwood durable and extremely resistant to insects and decay, but not to marine borers. The heartwood resists preservative treatment, but the sapwood is permeable.

Timber Processing

• Drying - Kiln Schedule B. Dries slowly with appreciable surface checking and end-splitting, but distortion is not serious.
• Working - Difficult to work owing to hardness and interlocked grain. Easy to scrape and sand and gives a fine finish. Suitable for bends of moderate radius of curvature if well supported with a metal strap.
• Assembly - Difficult to nail and screw and liable to split, but fastenings are held well.
• Finishing - Finishes smoothly and polishes well. Stains will not penetrate the timber.

Uses: Suitable for interior decorative work and fittings. Can be used for cabinet work, furniture making, flooring, panelling. Very suitable for inlay work and turnery.

Supplies: Occurs frequently in the Guyana Forests. Reasonable supplies are available.