- Common Names
- Redheart, Chakte Kok
- Scientific Name
- Erythroxylum spp. and Simira spp.
- Origin
- Southern Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay
- Appearance
- Aptly named, in some instances freshly surfaced Redheart can be a very bright, watermelon red—though color can vary in intensity and hue from board to board: anywhere from a light orange/pink, (similar to Pink Ivory), to a darker brownish red. In some cases, it can look quite similar to Bloodwood, though usually with a more visible and figured grain pattern. Redheart’s vibrant color quickly fades to a reddish brown in direct sunlight, though this color change can be slowed (but usually not stopped entirely) by using a finish with UV inhibitors, and keeping the wood away from strong lighting. Grain is usually straight or irregular, with a fine, even texture. Low to medium natural luster. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small to very small pores arranged predominantly in radial multiples of 2-5; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma varies by species: sometimes rare or absent, or vasicentric and weakly aliform (winged).
- Avg. Dried Weight
- 40 lbs/ft3 (640 kg/m3)
- Janka Hardness
- 1210 lbf
- Modulus of Rupture
- 14,320 lbf/in2 (98.7 MPa)
- Elastic Modulus
- 1,497,000 lbf/in2 (10.32 GPa)
- Crushing Strength
- 6,690 lbf/in2 (46.2 MPa)
- Shrinkage
- Radial: 2.8%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 10.6%, T/R Ratio: 2.9
- Durability
- Laboratory tests have shown Redheart to be moderately durable to attack by decay fungi.
- Workability
- Redheart has good working characteristics, and planes, machines, and sands well. Turns, glues, and finishes well, though a brown color shift is to be expected.
