Detailed Product Description

Natural Durability
Peltogyne heartwood is rated as highly resistant to attack by decay fungi, very resistant to dry-wood termite attack, and slightly resistant to attack by marine borers. The wood is also reported to be resistant to chemicals such as acids.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is reported to be extremely resistant to impregnation but the sapwood is treatable.

Exudates
Working the wood with dull cutting tools may cause gum exudation.

Blunting Effect
Cutting tools may be gummed up if they are not very sharp. Blunting is rated as moderate to severe.

Cutting Resistance
Peltogyne timbers are reported to be moderately difficult to saw. Tools usually require frequent sharpening. Slow feed rates and specially tipped cutters are suggested. 

Planing
Peltogyne timbers are reported to be moderately difficult to work in most machining operations including planing, turning, boring, and moulding. They respond rather poorly to ordinary tools, and working with dull cutters may cause the wood to heat up and exude resin which can considerably increase machining difficulty. Slower feed rates and specially tipped cutters, or sharp, high-speed steel knives are suggested. A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has also been recommended, especially when planing and moulding material with interlocked or wavy grain. 

Gluing
The material is reported to be easy to glue.

Nailing
The wood requires to be pre-bored, but nail-holding capabilities are reported to be good.

Sanding
The material is reported to be fairly difficult to sand.

Polishing
Polishing properties are reported to be rather good.

Staining
The material is reported to take finishes rather well. There is a tendency for some finishes to bleed, but reports indicate that water-based finishes hold color better. The use of spirit finishes are reported to remove the purple coloring in the wood. 

Steam Bending
The wood steam bends fairly well.

Response to Hand Tools
Response to hand tools is reported to be only fair. 

Strength Properties
The strength properties of timber produced by species in the genus are reported to be between those of European beech (Fagus sylvatica ) and Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei ). Bending strength in the air-dry condition is very high, and crushing strength is exceptionally high. It is hard, and does not mar or dent easily. It is also very heavy and very dense.