Jatobá Hardwood
(Hymenaea courbaril)
Jatoba, also widely known as Brazillian Cherry, is one of the world’s most sought tropical hardwoods due to its exceptional hardness and striking appearance. Its colors can range from orange and red to darker shades of purple and brown, depending on exposure to light. Jatoba’s textured grain is typically interlocked.
More about the species
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Scientific Name: Hymenaea courbaril
Other Names: Brazillian Cherry (US), Guapinol (C. America & Mexico), Algarrobo (Colombia, Venezuela), Jatai, Locust
Workability: Jatoba is rated as highly workable, but sharp, quality cutting tools are required as the heartwood is considerably dense. Gluing is reportedly good, and fasteners hold effectively.
Drying: Jatoba dries at a fast to moderate rate with low end-checking, and other defects. Kiln schedules T3-C2 and T3-C1 are recommended for 4/4 and 8/4 lumber, respectively.
Durability: Because of its exceptional durability, Brazillian Cherry is used extensively as flooring and decking throughout Europe and the United States. It is rated very high in resistance to wood borers and insects. Jatoba is also very resistant to rot and fungal attack when used for exterior purposes.
Uses: Flooring, decking, furniture, structural members, cabinetry, mouldings, doors and windows, stair componentsdurability.
Technical Data
Janka hardness: 2,350 lbs
Density: 800 Kg/m3 or 0.94 g/cm3
Bending strength: 19,400 psi
Modulous of elasticity: 2,160 (1,000) psi
Tangential shrinkage: 7.5%
Radial shrinkage: 3.9%
* All values given at 12% moisture content.