Tamarind

Specs

Common Names

Tamarind, Spalted Tamarind

Scientific Name

Tamarindus indica

Origin

Native to tropical Africa;

Appearance

Heartwood is a deep reddish brown, sometimes with a purplish hue—heartwood portions of Tamarind tend to be narrow and are usually only present in older and larger trees. The pale yellow sapwood is very wide and sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Spalting and other discoloration are very common in the sapwood, and the majority of the Tamarind available in the United States is spalted sapwood. Grain is wavy and interlocked with a medium uniform texture. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; medium to large pores in no specific arrangement, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; heartwood mineral/gum deposits occasionally present;narrow rays faintly visible without lens, spacing normal to fairly close; parenchyma vasicentric, lozenge, confluent, and banded (marginal).

Avg. Dried Weight

53 lbs/ft3 (850 kg/m3)

Janka Hardness

2690 lbf

Modulus of Rupture

16,090 lbf/in2 (111.0 MPa)

Elastic Modulus

1,918,000 lbf/in2 (13.22 GPa)

Crushing Strength

8,640 lbf/in2 (59.6 MPa)

Shrinkage

Radial: ~3%, Tangential: ~7%, Volumetric: ~11%

Durability

Heartwood is reported to be durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, and also resistant to insect attack. Sapwood is non-durable and prone to insect and fungal attack, as well as spalting.

Workability

Because of its density and interlocked grain, Tamarind is generally considered difficult to work. Heartwood also has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges. Turns, glues, and finishes well—the heartwood is able to take a high natural polish.