TRADA has undertaken a market research programme with hardwood suppliers to identify new commercial species gaining popularity and to collate technical information about them. Many of the new timbers come with FSC or other chain of custody certification but their properties have not to date been well documented.
More than 20 species are being researched and TRADA will add them to the database over the coming months when the relevant technical information has been checked and collated. The first of the new timbers to be listed are:
Garapa
Apuleia leiocarpa. Yellowish-brown, grows in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and eastern Peru. Said to be easy to work, finishing smoothly, although its high silica content causes blunting. Pre-boring is necessary. Typical uses: decking, cladding, furniture, tool handles, flooring.
Massaranduba
Manilkara bidentata, Manilkara spp. A reddish timber native to the West Indies, Central America, and northern South America. Similar or superior to greenheart in bending strength. Typical uses: bridge construction, decking, flooring, heavy structural use, wharf construction.
Cumaru
Dipteryx spp, principally Dipteryx odorata. Naturally distributed throughout northern South America and Central America, the tree has been widely cultivated in Mexico and the West Indies, particularly in Jamaica. The heartwood is reddish-brown or purplish-brown, and despite its density the timber is said to be relatively easy to dry. Typical uses: bridge construction, cladding, flooring, turnery, heavy structural use, decking.
Ipé
Tabebuia spp, principally Tabebuia serratifolia. Found in theLesser Antilles and in Central America and South America. A light to dark olive brown timber noted for its great strength and durability and characterised by the presence of a yellowish powder in the vessels. Typical uses: flooring, decking, bridge construction, mouldings, turnery, furniture, tool handles, exterior joinery.
TRADA Members who supply these timbers should update their entries in the Suppliers Directory to this effect. They may do this themselves, or email Membership Secretary Deb Edwards
