Andiroba
Scientific Name:
Carapa guianensis
Other Names and Species:
Bateo
Carapa
Crabwood
Crappo
Figueroa
Masabalo
Tangere
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Andiroba is a tall rainforest tree that grows up to 40 m high. It is in the same family as mahogany. It can be found growing wild throughout the Brazil and Amazon rainforest, usually on rich soils, in swamps, and in the alluvial flats, marshes, and uplands of the Amazon Basin.
Andiroba lumber are soft. The sapwood is pinkish initially but turns to pale brown or grayish upon exposure, is not clearly demarcated from the heartwood. The color of the heartwood is reported to vary. It is initially light salmon to reddish brown, or pale pink to rich red-brown, but ages to a fairly uniform dull reddish brown. Crabwood is similar to Honduras mahogany, it is reported to be less figured but finer texture.
Weight:
Andiroba weight are 40 – 59 lbs/cu.ft. while Specific Gravity 0.56 (green) – 0.64 (dry).
Use:
Boat decks, cabinetwork, furniture, interior construction, veneer , and stairworks.
General Characteristics:
Andiroba is reported to have no odor, soft, durable, and much sought by sawmills. The heartwood is reported to be resistant to impregnation. Crabwood is reported to require fewer coats of stain. Response to hand tools is reported to be good. This wood is reported to take stain and polish well. The lumber also reported to be dimensionally stable after drying.
Working Properties:
Andiroba is relatively easy to cut and shows only slight dulling effects on tools. The wood has tendency to split under nailing making pre-boring a necessity. Crabwood is easy to plane, turn well, moulded or shaped easily, staining, varnishing, painting well. This wood is good choice for your floor.
Drying and Shrinkage:
Slow drying rates, and a low temperature are recommended, high humidity schedule is suggested for best results. Andiroba is reported has slow drying process. Recommended kiln drying are T3 – C2 (4/4); T3 – C1 (8/4) US; Schedule C; United Kingdom. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4%; tangential 8%; volumetric 12%.
Durability:
The timber is reported to be vulnerable to attack by dry-wood termites and powder-post beetles. Andiroba strength is considered to be strong. Hardness is rated as medium. It is a heavy wood with high density.
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