CHECHEM
BOTANICAL NAME: Metopium brownei of the family Anacardiaceae

COMMON NAMES: the common alternate name in America is chechen. Other common names include black poison, black poisonwood, boarwood, bumwood, cedro, prieto, chachin, chechem negro, cochinilla, cochinillo, coral sumach, cotinillo, guao, guao de costa, guao de peadero, manceniller, mulatre, malo de rosa, papayo, papyo, poisonwood, poisontree

TYPE:

COLOR: heartwood comes in various shades of brown including chocolate and reddish brown, sometimes with copper accents. Has dark striping/highlights and may have shades of reds and maroons. Sapwood is grayish tan.

GRAIN: close, tight grain, usually straight but with some mottled or wavy figure; exhibits a lot of variety in pattern and can be very attractive

TEXTURE:

PROPERTIES / WORKABILITY: hard, dense, and easy to work; saws, turns, and glues well, sands to a high, almost waxy polish

DURABILITY: moderate

FINISH: has a high natural luster and takes a fine finish. Takes lacquer and varnish finishes well, but responds poorly to polyurethane

STABILITY: small movement in service

BENDING:

ODOR: no specific smell or taste

SOURCES: Mexico and Central America. Some reports include Oceania and S.E. Asia

USES: boxes and crates, cabinetmaking, chairs, charcoal, decorative veneer, flooring, furniture, heavy construction, paneling, pool cues, railroad ties, turnery

TREE:

WEIGHT: 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.

DRYING:

AVAILABILITY: readily available (use the names chechen or chechem)

COST:

web quotes:
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Careful selection and matching is essential because of wide color variations

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The wide variety of grain pattern and figure makes this an especially interesting exotic wood, but also suggests that the user carefully select each board for desired appearance.