Brazilian Cherry Wood Flooring

Jatoba Hymenaea courbaril

Sample is 3/4-by-2-1/4-inch square-edge solid strip.
Top portion is finished with water-base urethane;
bottom with oil-modified polyurethane.

Appearance

Color: Sapwood is gray-white; heartwood is salmon red to orange-brown when fresh, and becomes russet or reddish brown when seasoned; often marked with dark streaks.

Grain: Mostly interlocked; texture is medium to rather coarse.
Variations Within Species And Grades: Moderate to high color variation. Properties
 

Properties

Hardness/Janka: 2350; 82% harder than Northern red oak.
Dimensional Stability: Average (change coefficient .00300; 19% more stable than red oak). However, actual installations have demonstrated significant movement in use.

Durability: Dense and very strong.
 

Workability

Sawing/Machining: Sawing is difficult due to high density; requires frequent resharpening of tools. Planing is difficult due to interlocked grain. Can be machined to a smooth surface. Carbide tooling recommended.
Sanding: Sands well.
Nailing: Good holding ability, but due to hardness may require adjustment of angle of penetration and/or height.

Finishing: No known problems.
Comments: Light-sensitive; darkens rapidly upon exposure to sunlight.
 

Cost

(relative to plainsawn select red oak)
Multiplier: 1.30
 

Availability

Readily available.