Brazilian Walnut

Scientific Name:

Tabebuia serratifolia

Other Names and Species:

Brazilian Walnut
Cortez
Greenheart
Green Ironwood
Hakai
Ipe
Ironwood
Polvillo
Tabebuia
Tahua

Origin:

Central and South America

Appearance:

The heartwood of lapacho ranges from olive brown to near black, though it can have lighter or darker markings that are sharply seperated from the yellower sapwood. Lapacho is an oily appearance low-luster wood, fine-to-medium textured, and straight to very irregularly grained.

Properties:

Lapacho, or ipe as it is also commonly referred to as, is an unbelievably durable and hard wood species. This species is very resistant to decay and termite and dry insect attack. Just like concrete and steel, it even has a Class 1 UBC (uniform building code) fire rating. Along with its extreme hardness, strength, weight, density, and durability, lapacho is also one of the most stable woods available. However, it is important to “over-dry” the wood in a kiln to avoid excessive shrinkage when installing.

Janka Hardness: 3684

Lapacho is one of the most remarkably hard and durable woods. It dwarfs red oak’s 1290 rating, is over one hundred and seventy percent harder than white oak, over one hundred and fifty percent harder than hard maple, about two thirds harder than santos mahogany, and is just under fifty seven percent harder than Brazilian cherry’s ranking of 2350.

Workability:

Lapacho can be difficult to manipulate with tools due to its extreme hardness. Sharpening of tools is a necessity! Pre-boring is suggested before nailing. yet the wood holds nails well once applied. Glue holds well with chestnut flooring. This species sands fairly well but does marr somewhat easily under heavy traffic.

Principal Uses:

Some of lapacho’s uses include flooring, dockwork, harbor construction, railroad ties, and molding. This species is a particularly excellent choice for industrial-application flooring as a result of its hardness, durability, and shock resistant properties.