Canarywood

Specs

Common Names

Canarywood, Canary

Scientific Name

Centrolobium spp.

Origin

South America (from Panama down to southern Brazil)

Appearance

Heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout. Pale yellow sapwood is sharply demarcated from heartwood. Color tends to darken and homogenize with age: see the article Preventing Color Changes in Exotic Woods for more information. Grain is typically straight, but can be irregular or wild on some pieces. Uniform fine to medium texture with good natural luster. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; large pores in no specific arrangement, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; mineral/gum deposits occasionally present; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma varies depending on species: can be vasicentric, aliform, and confluent.

Avg. Dried Weight

52 lbs/ft3 (830 kg/m3)

Janka Hardness

1520 lbf

Modulus of Rupture

19,080 lbf/in2 (131.6 MPa)

Elastic Modulus

2,164,000 lbf/in2 (14.93 GPa)

Crushing Strength

9,750 lbf/in2 (67.2 MPa)

Shrinkage

Radial: 2.4%, Tangential: 5.6%, Volumetric: 8.4%, T/R Ratio: 2.3

Durability

Rated as very durable in regard to decay resistance, as well as being resistant to termite and marine borer attack.

Workability

Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some tearout can occur during planing on pieces with wild or irregular grain. Good dimensional stability. Turns, glues and finishes well.