Andiraba

Botanical name: Guarapa Guianensis.
Grows in: South America

Hardness/Janka: Janka:1848

General Description: Fairly uniform medium brown to reddish brown that will darken with exposure to light.

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is pinkish initially but turns to pale brown or grayish upon exposure. It is reported to constitute a greater percentage of the timber, and is not clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Heartwood Color
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. The wood is reported to be so similar to Honduras mahogany that they are often confused with each other.

Grain
The grain is usually straight but is sometimes interlocked or roey. The wood exhibits an attractive stripe and parallel, irregular rays when quarter sawn.

Texture
The wood has a medium to moderately coarse texture. Although Crabwood is similar to Honduras mahogany, it is reported to be less figured, and has a finer texture than Honduras mahogany.

Luster
Wood luster is reported to range from low to high.

Natural Durability
The timber is reported to be vulnerable to attack by dry-wood termites and powder-post beetles. Logs are reported to be highly susceptible to attack by pin-hole borers.

Nailing
The wood is reported to have poor nailing. Pre-boring is recommended to prevent splitting.

Screwing
Screwing qualities are reported to be good. 

Sanding
Crabwood is reported to respond well to sanding.

Polishing
The timber is reported to polish to a smooth finish. 

Staining
Crabwood is reported to require fewer coats of stain to achieve the same surface smoothness than Honduras mahogany.

Varnishing
Varnishing properties are rated higher than those of Honduras mahogany. 

Strength Properties
The bending strength of air-dried wood is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Strength properties, especially stiffness, are rated as higher than those of Honduras mahogany. Hardness is rated as medium. It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch. It is a heavy wood with high density. The wood closely resembles the mahoganies (Swietenia and Khaya ), but is less attractive.

Available Flooring: Scandian.