Jatoba

Durability:

Moderately durable, but non-durable when a high proportion of sapwood is present. It is very resistant to termites and extremely resistant to preservative treatment.

Mechanical Properties:

Very strong, hard and tough with a very good bending classification. Jatoba wood is rated as being very durable in regards to rot resistance, and is also resistant to termites and most other insects.

Seasoning:

Rather difficult to dry,tends to be rapid with moderatesurface checking and warping and a liability to case harden. Slow drying will overcome these tendencies. There is small movement in service.

Uses:

  • Jatoba is excellent for flooring, stair treads, ship planking, general woodworking joinery and building construction
  • Its high shock resistance and extreme hardness and strength makes it ideal for tool handles and sports goods
Get in Touch

Description

Jatoba timber, also known as Brazilian cherry, has heartwood that is salmon red to orange-brown, marked with dark brown and russet brown streaks. The wood has a golden lustre. The grain is commonly interlocked with a medium to coarse texture. Weight 910kg/m³ (56lb/ft³); specific gravity .91.

Additional information

Latin Name

Hymenaea courbaril

Family Name

Leguminosae

Distribution

Central and South America and West Indies

Also know as

Jutaby, courbaril, jatai amerelo, jatai vermelho (Brazil); locust (Suriname); copal (Equador); marbre (Guadaloupe); guapinal (Mexico); algarrobo (Puerto Rico)

Timber you may like

  • Meranti

    Meranti is a tropical hardwood usually found in South East Asia. The heartwood colour is medium to dark red brown with conspicuous white dammar or resin streaks. The sapwood of Meranti wood however is lighter in colour. The grain is interlocked and wavy giving Meranti a coarse texture. Brittle heart can also be present. Meranti timber tends to have a weight from 580-770 kg/m³ (36-48 lb/ft³) with an average of 670 kg/m³ (42 lb/ft³) and a specific gravity 0.67.

  • Greenheart

    Origins & Characteristics of Greenheart WoodOne of the most popular tropical hardwoods, Greenheart wood comes from South America and ranges in colour from yellow-green, golden yellow, light olive, dark olive, yellow-brown, dark brown to black. Decayed or defective greenheart wood logs have a yellow colour. Greenheart wood grain is straight to interlocked or roey and the texture fine and even, lustrous and cold to the touch.Weight 1030 kg/m³ (64 lb/ft³); specific gravity 1.03. Buy Greenheart Wood at Whitmore’s TimberWe have various measurements of Greenheart wood for sale to meet a range of specifications and requirements, and can provide bespoke cuts. For more information, please get in touch using our contact form or call 01455 209121.

  • Zebrano

    The heartwood is a light golden-yellow with narrow veining or streaks of dark brown to almost black, giving the quartered surfaces a zebra-stripe appearance. The grain is interlocked or wavy and produces alternating hard and soft grained material which makes the timber difficult to work. Zebrano has a coarse texture and a lustrous surface. Weight 740 kg/m³ (46 lb/ft³); specific gravity .74.

  • Purpleheart

    Purpleheart's general qualities are outlined below. From our headquarters in Leicestershire, we can supply high-quality cuts of purpleheart wood across the UK. For all enquiries and information, please contact our customer support team.

    • Colour: As the name suggests, Purpleheart’s heartwood is a deep purple-violet colour when freshly cut, maturing to a dark brown. The original colour is restored when re-cut.
    • Grain: Straight grained, but often irregular, wavy, and sometimes interlocked, producing a pleasing striped figure on quartered surfaces.
    • Texture: moderate to fine.
    • Weight: Weight varies from 800-1,000 kg/m³ (50-63 lb/ft³) averaging 860 kg/m³ (54 lb/ft³).
    • Specific gravity: 86.