WOOD SPECIES:
Bloodwood
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Brosimum rubescens, Brosimum paraense
OTHER COMMON NAMES:
Amapa Rana, Bloodwood, Conduru, Doekaliballi, Falso Pao Brasil, Ferolia, Legno Satino, Muirapiranga, Palo de Oro, Pau Rainha, Satijnhout, Satine, Satine Rouge, Satine Rubane, Satinholz, Satinwood, Siton Paya
TYPICAL USES:
Bloodwood is a favorite wood species for turnery applications, including pens, billiard cues, and drum sticks. Bloodwood also serves well for the creation of furniture, cabinetry and musical instruments.
SOURCES:
Central and Latin America
AVG BENDING STRENGTH:
21,600 psi
SPECIFIC GRAVITY:
0.70
AVG WEIGHT:
75 lbs/cu.ft.
SAPWOOD COLOR:
The distinct sapwood of Bloodwood is a light, creamy yellowish white in color.
HEARTWOOD COLOR:
Bloodwood’s heartwood ranges from a deep red to a lighter reddish brown color.
GRAIN:
Typically straight and interlocked, with occasional wavy figuring.
TEXTURE:
Fine texture with small, tight pores.
MOVEMENT:
Very little dimensional movement reported.
DURABILITY:
Bloodwood is extremely durable, with strong resistance to both decay and insect attack.
BLUNTING EFFECT:
The denseness of Bloodwood lumber lends itself to the wood having an above-average blunting effect on cutting tools.
CUTTING RESISTANCE:
Bloodwood’s dense nature makes it rather difficult to cut. Sharp tools are highly recommended.
PLANING:
Very sharp cutters and proper angles are required to avoid splintering and tearout during planing operations.
TURNING:
Bloodwood turns extremely well with sharp tools and proper speeds and angles.
BORING:
Again, sharp tools are required to overcome the dense, brittle nature of Bloodwood lumber.
GLUING:
Glues well.
NAILING:
Pre-drilling is highly recommended prior to nailing.
SCREWING:
Bloodwood holds screw wells, assuming proper pre-boring.
POLISHING:
Bloodwood possesses excellent polishing properties.
STAINING:
Stains well. Clear or light colored dyes and stains are recommended to allow the natural colorations inherent in Bloodwood to shine through.
STEAM BENDING:
Not recommended.
