Brazilian Maple (Pau Marfim)

Botanical name: Balfourodendron riedelianum
Grows in: South America

Hardness/Janka: Janka:1500

Sapwood Color
There is no contrast between the heartwood and sapwood.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is nearly white, pale yellowish-brown, or cream to lemon in color, sometimes with a grayish tinge and/or darker streaks. The wood is reported to have a superficial likeness to Sugar maple or Yellow birch, but it is much harder and more elastic.

Grain
The grain is straight, sometimes interlocked, and irregular.

Texture
The texture is fine to very fine and uniform. The size and appearance of earlywood and latewood cells are relatively uniform within each growth ring.

Luster
The wood has a medium luster.

Gluing
Gluing properties are rated as satisfactory.

Nailing
The wood is reported to nail well.

Screwing
Screwing properties are reported to be good.

Polishing
The wood has good finishing characteristics and can be polished to a high smooth finish.

Staining
Staining properties are reported to be good.

Varnishing
The material is reported to be rather easy to varnish.

Substitutes
The species has been suggested as a viable substitute for Maple (Acer ) and Birch (Betula ) because of similarities in appearance and uses. It is reported to be superior to Maple for flooring because of its high wear resistance, but Pau marfim is much harder to work and is reported to be stronger than necessary for cabinet work. The wood is also reported to vary widely in density, depending upon prevailing conditions at growth sites.

Strength Properties
The species has very high density. It is a very heavy wood. The wood is high in density.