Wood description
Fresh cut Wallaba is brown/reddish and darkens to dark red-brown with characteristic sticky oily stripes. The appearance of Wallaba is strongly influenced by the high level of dyes, tannins and gum (up to 30%). Excretions of these dyes and tannins leads to dark stripes and stains on the wood whereby the wood feels greasy and sticky
Name : Walaba
Scientific name : Eperua falcate
Family : Leguminosae (Caesalpiniaceae)
Origin : Suriname, Guyana, Brazil and Venezuela
Other names : Apa, Apazeiro, Bioudou, Ilapa, Wapa
Natural Durability : Class 1 with good resistance to termites
Density (12%) : 900 kg/m³
Shrinkage (%) : rad. 1,3%, tang. 3,1%
Bending strength (12%) : 139 N/mm²
Drying : very slowly because it tends to split and deform
Working : good but the gum can affect the saw blades
Finishing : bad due to high volume of gum
Uses : interior and exterior joinery, heavy dry construction, industrial, flooring, posts and poles, shingles