Jatoba
Jatoba, scientifically known as Hymenaea courbaril, is a hardwood tree native to Central and South America. It is highly regarded for its exceptional hardness, deep reddish-brown color, and versatility in woodworking.
Appearance and Characteristics
Jatoba wood is celebrated for its rich, reddish-brown to deep orange-brown color, often featuring darker streaks or grain patterns that add to its visual appeal. The wood has a straight to interlocked grain pattern and a coarse texture. Jatoba is relatively heavy, typically weighing around 4.0 to 5.0 pounds per board foot (907 to 1134 kilograms per cubic meter). This density and coloration make it an attractive choice for both strength and aesthetics.
Workability
Jatoba is known for its hardness, which can make it challenging to work with hand and power tools. Pre-drilling is often necessary when fastening, and carbide tooling is recommended. Despite its hardness, Jatoba glues well and accepts stains and finishes effectively, allowing for a polished and refined appearance.
Uses in Woodworking
Jatoba wood finds various applications in woodworking, including:
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Flooring: Jatoba is a popular choice for hardwood flooring due to its durability and rich color. It can withstand heavy foot traffic and remains visually appealing over time.
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Furniture: It is often used in crafting fine furniture, including tables, chairs, and cabinets. Jatoba's strength and attractive grain patterns make it suitable for both structural and decorative components.
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Cabinetry: Jatoba is employed in cabinetry, where its hardness and coloration create high-end kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
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Millwork and Trim: Jatoba is used in millwork projects, including moldings, trim, and interior doors. Its pronounced grain adds character to architectural elements.
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Woodturning: Jatoba is an excellent choice for woodturning. Its dense nature allows woodturners to create intricate turned items, such as bowls, platters, and spindles, with great precision.
Durability
Jatoba wood exhibits exceptional durability:
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Indoor Use: Jatoba is well-suited for indoor applications, particularly for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and millwork. Its strength and hardness make it ideal for applications where wear and tear are concerns.
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Outdoor Use: While Jatoba is not commonly used for outdoor applications, it can be employed for short-term or protected outdoor projects due to its resistance to insects and decay.
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Bug/Insect and Rot Resistance: Jatoba is naturally resistant to insects and decay, contributing to its longevity and durability in various applications.
VARIATIONS AND OPTIONS
All lumber now ships surfaced on 2 sides, and ripped on 1 edge at a minimum. Surfacing is done to a 1/16th over nominal (+- .030). Also the option for a rip to width is now available for a premium price. Ripping is done on an industrial straight line/gang rip machine. While the rip will be consistent end to end, the fence may not always end up in the same spot between orders. Rip widths will be within 1/8th of an inch of stated widths.
4/4 will be surfaced to 13/16ths. 5/4 will be surfaced to 1 and 1/16th. 6/4 6/4 will be surfaced to 1 and 5/16ths. 8/4 will be surfaced to 1 and 13/16ths. 10/4 will be surfaced to 2 and 5/16ths. 16/4 will be surfaced to 2 and 13/16ths.