Brazilian Mahogany
also known as Arapatanga

The following information is posted with permission of Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) and is taken from their red booklets Timbers of the World. © TRADA

Swietenia macrophylla King. Family : Meliaceae    

Other names
arapatanga , cedro-i. acajou, mogno, aguano.    

Distribution
Widely distributed in Central and South America. These notes refer more specifically to the timber found in Brazil. where it occurs over a wide area from the Vale do Sao Francisco, the Zona da Mata. and Estado de Minais Gerais. It is particularly abundant in Caceras. and near the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers.

The tree
Often very large, attaining a height of 45m with a diameter of 2m or more above the heavy buttress.

The timber
The wood is variable in colour, ranging from pale or medium reddish-brown to deep rich red, the darkest specimens resembling Cuban mahogany, S. mahagoni. The colour of the wood, its texture and grain, varies according to the locality of growth, and limited tests suggest the wood extracted from the Araguaia area more closely resembles Central American mahogany in appearance, medium texture, and shallow interlocking grain, while that from Caceras had a more marked interlocked grain, and that from the Tocantins area had similar characteristics.

It would be unwise to assume that these characteristics hold good for each locality of growth, but rather that some variation can be expected. Madeiras do Brasil, a publication of the lnstituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas, Sao Paulo, merely states the grain may be straight or interlocked, and the texture medium and uniform. Selection of logs and timber for export purposes is the criterion on which the timber must be judged on suitable characteristics. however, and the importance of the wood should not be overlooked. The dry weight of the wood is also variable, ranging from light. 420 kg/m3 to heavy, 800 kg/rn3, but the Brazilian publication referred to above gives the dry weight as 640 kg/rn3 which suggests that in general, Brazilian mahogany is some 20 per cent heavier than Central American mahogany.

Drying
Dries easily and well, without appreciable warping or checking. The presence of tension wood can result in longitudinal shrinkage in kiln drying..

Strength
The strength properties are good for a timber of its weight. It compares closely with Central American mahogany in bending strength. but is slightly less stiff. It is also a harder wood than that from Belize.

Durability
Durable.

Working qualities
A fairly easy wood to work, either with hand or machine tools. The presence of tension wood gives rise to fuzzy surfaces, and deeply interlocked grain causes some grain tearing on quarter-sawn surfaces. The use of sharp cutting edges and suitable sanding is generally sufficient to produce a good surface. The wood takes glue, stains and polish excellently. It also produces good veneer.

Uses
Furniture, cabinets, high-class internal and external joinery, boat building, flooring, veneer.