Mexican Cedar

Scientific name: Cedrela odorata L.

Geographic origin: Central America, south America, the Caribbean and the west Indies.

Description

Sapwood: pink white.
Heartwood: pink brown to light red that darkens whith the light effects.
Fiber: straight, it is usually slightly intertwined.
Grain: medium size.

Capacity of being impregnated

Sapwood: medium capacity of being impregnated.
Heartwood: medium to none capacity of being impregnated.

Mechanization

Sawing process: easy and with no difficulties.
Drying process: quite slow. Little risk of collapse. Little risk of deformation and crack formation. High risk of resin exudations.
Planing process: Easy. Risk of repelling on pieces of intertwined fibers.
Gluing process: no difficulties, except in case of excess resin exudations, where wood surfaces should be previously cleaned by using organic solvents.
Nailing and screwing process: easy.
Finish: no difficulties, except those mentioned cases of exudations.

Physical properties

Apparent density at 12% humidity 490 kg/m3 light.
Dimensional stability
- Volumetric contraction coefficient 0.34 % highly stable wood.
- Relation between contractions 1.5% no tendency to deformity.
Hardness (Chaláis-Meudon) 2.0 soft to semi-softwood.

Mechanical properties

Resistance to static flexion 753 kg/cm2.
Elasticity module 90,000 kg/cm2.
Resistance to compression 415 kg/cm2.

Observations

Attention, very important: It is a species protected by the CITES agreement. It is contained in the Annex III for the regions of Colombia and Peru. A CITES permission is required for those specimens obtained in Colombia and Peru. A certificate of re-exportation or certificate of origin issued by the CITES administration authority of the exporting country is required when the specimens are obtained in another country different from Colombia or Peru.
Such documentation must be demanded at the time of purchasing.

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