Common Name: Tonka Bean
Scientific Name: Dipteryx odorata
Wood Description: Tonka Bean, also widely known as Cumaru or Brazilian Teak, is a tropical hardwood Dipteryx odorata, native to Central and South America. The heartwood when fresh is reddish-brown or purplish-brown, often with light yellowish-brown or purplish streaks. Upon exposure, it gradually becomes a uniform light brown or yellowish-brown. Some pieces may have streaks of yellowish or greenish brown. The sapwood is distinct, narrow, and yellowish-brown. The wood has a fine texture and a grain that is typically interlocked, though sometimes wavy. It possesses a waxy or oily feel and a rather low to medium luster. While the taste is not distinctive, it may have a vanilla-like or rancid odor, or a faint vanilla or cinnamon-like odor when being worked.
Physical Properties: Tonka Bean is a very heavy and dense wood. Its basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) ranges from 0.80 to 0.91, with an average dried weight of 1,085 kg/m³ (68 lbs/ft³). Air-dry density ranges from 62 to 81 pcf. The Janka side hardness is exceptionally high, reported as 3,540 lb at 12% MC and 2,200 lbs. for green material, with another source stating 3,330 lbf (14,800 N). The average toughness is 265 in.-lb. Shrinkage from green to oven-dry is radial 5.0-5.3% and tangential 7.6-7.7%, with volumetric shrinkage of 12.0-12.6%. The wood is noted for being very stable, unlikely to warp or twist over time. The heartwood fluoresces under a blacklight, which can aid in distinguishing it from Ipe.
Mechanical Properties: Tonka Bean is an extremely stiff, strong, and hard timber. Its modulus of rupture (MOR) is 25,390 lbf/in² (175.1 MPa). The modulus of elasticity (MOE) is 3,237,000 lbf/in² (22.33 GPa). Crushing strength is 13,850 lbf/in² (95.5 MPa). It has excellent strength and shock resistance. These properties make it suitable for applications where strength and durability are paramount.
Uses: Tonka Bean is a versatile timber used for demanding applications. It is commonly used for flooring, cabinetry, and furniture. Its strength and durability make it suitable for heavy construction, docks, railroad ties, bearings, and tool handles. It is also popular for turning, carving, and other decorative work, as well as musical instruments and veneer. It is sometimes used as a substitute for the much scarcer Lignum Vitae.