Nargusta Hardwood
(Terminalia amazonia)
Terminalia amazonia, known also by the trade names Nargusta and Tanimbuca, is a tropical hardwood species with a wide range throughout Central and northern South America. The heartwood is typically yellow to pinkish-red, often with dark red veins running along the grain. The grain is tight, and extremely non-porous, which makes treatment difficult, but also results in excellent durability.
More about the species
Family: Combretaceae
Scientific Name: Terminalia amazonia
Other Names: Guayabon (Nicaragua), Tanimbuca (Brazil), Cumbillo (Honduras), Almendro, Guayabillo, Fukadi, Amarillo (Panama)
Workability: Nargusta is generally considered difficult to work by hand, because of its hardness and blunting affect. However, straight-grained sections are more workable and yield excellent results from machining. Fasteners hold well, but gluing capability is poor.
Drying: Guayabon, as Nargusta is known in Nicaragua, dries slowly, with some variation in defects reported, from very mild to moderate checking and warping. Kiln schedules T3-C2 and T3-C1 are recommended for 4/4 and 8/4”stocks, respectively.
Durability: Nargusta’s heartwood holds up well to fungal-decay and is resistant to termite attack. Once finished, Nargusta should provide a durable, long lasting product.
Uses: Flooring, cabinetry, furniture, structural building components, exterior/interior joinery, mouldings, shipbuilding.
Technical Data
Janka hardness: 1,809 lbs
Density: 769 Kg/m3, 0.93 g/cm3
Bending strength: 16,821 psi
Modulous of elasticity: 2,135 (1,000 psi)
Tangential shrinkage: 8.7%
Radial shrinkage: 6.4%
* All values given at 12% moisture content.