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Tabebuia spp.
THE TIMBER:
The relatively wide sapwood is yellowish-white and sharply
differentiated from the heartwood. When freshly cut, the heartwood is grayish
and darkens upon exposure to a grayish-green or brownish-olive. Because
there is not control over the specific species of ipe reaching the
marketplace, there may be a wide variety of physical characteristics
of the wood. Generally, the timber has a fine but often uneven and interlocked
grain. There is neither distinct odor nor taste to the wood.
WORKABILITY:
This hard heavy wood, often with wavy grain, is hard to work. It plays havoc with cutting blades on machine tools but not to a point that the wood
should be abandoned. It turns and finishes well. Pre-boring before using nails or screws is advised.
USES:
Uses include heavy construction, railroad crossties, turnery, industrial flooring and decorative veneer. It is ideal for outside decks, walkways and railing
in up-scale applications. |
