Trade Names
Tigerwood, Goncalo Alves, Kingwood, Urunday, Zebrawood
Latin Names
Astronium fraxinifolium
Similar to
Quebracho
Origin
South America
Range
Goncalo Alves is part of the Anacardiaceaen family. From Guyana and Colombia via Ecuador and Mexico through to Peru and Honduras. Also in El Salvador, Trinidad and Brazil.
Uses
Due to its salient light-dark contrast, Goncalo Alves is perfectly suitable for the production of decorative veneer. Its extravagant color combination, which often commemorates the skin of a tiger, makes the wood of the genus ‘astronium fraxinifolium’ interesting especially for the furniture industry and the producers of paneling and ceiling lining. It is also utilized for shipbuilding and for building constructions with extraordinary stress as well as for weaver’s shuttles and tool helves in the high-class sector as a special wood.
Properties
In kiln-dried status, Goncalo Alves has a density of approx. 850 - 960 kg / m3, therefore, it is one of the extra sturdy hardwoods. Very decorative, red brown to crimson color, often spotted with or traversed by wide dark brown to almost black veins.
Machining
Woodworking presents dif culties due to the hardness of the wood (especially with irregular ber course). Ideally, very sharp carbide tipped tools should be used in order to avoid rapid blunting of the knives. Pre-drilling before screwing and nailing is recommended.
Seasoning
Drying is quite complicated and must be carried out very slowly and carefully to prevent checking and warping. In general, Goncalo Alves is characterized by a good stability.
Finishing
In general, smooth and clean surfaces can be achieved which impose by their natural gloss. Goncalo Alves takes well to polishes.
Jointing
Joints cause problems due to high presence of tylosis.