WOOD ID POSTER:
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240 woods on a poster (24"x36")

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ANDIROBA

Carapa spp.



Carapa spp. (generally Carapa guianensis) of the family Meliaceae, the mahogany family

Also widely known as crabwood, this moderately heavy South/Central American wood is sometimes used as a mahogany substitute as it is in the mahogany family and is somewhat similar to the Swietenia mahoganies in both color and grain. It is inexpensive in its areas of growth and is widely used there for many purposes. It is susceptable to pin-hole borers and other wood eaters and many of the planks I've had have had heavy areas of holes, especially in and near the sapwood (check out the top edge of the upper plank in the first set of my pics directly below --- the enlargements show the holes quite clearly)


my samples:


two planks --- the other sides are shown directly below


the other sides of the two planks shown directly above


a closeup of the same two planks


small piece, and end grain, cut from the top left side of the top plank above --- I chose this section because it has some sapwood and when I sanded it down, I was surprized to find some very clean spalting that I had not seen when the plank was rough.


end grain closeup of the piece directly above


side grain closeup of the piece directly above


same plank as the pics above but this time dry and wet (with water) side by side to show how a finishing agent is likely to enhance the color of the wood


plank --- color should be just a shade more red, very like the two planks at the top of the page.


web pics


planks


planks listed as crabwood / Carapa guianensis


planks sold as vermelah


this plank was listed as andiroba, but I am very dubious about it since it doesn't look anything like my own samples or the other pics on this page.


bowl blanks --- rough cut and possibly waxed


plank not listed as having any particular figure, although obvioulsy it does


planks listed as crabwood


both sides of a plank, and a closeup, listed as crabwood


planks listed as Brazilian crabwood


mottled plank


veneer


figured veneer


advertised as mottled veneer, this looks the same to me as that advertised as bee's wing veneer --- see directly below


bee's wing veneer




plank, listed as crabwood, from the BogusColorVendorwhich makes me doubt the color (actually I would doubt this color no matter who it was from)