Wallaba

Unique Woods

Ipe
Jatoba'
Cumaru
Rode Kabbes
Angelim Pedra
Basralocus

Elite Woods

Hububalli
Acapu
Macacauba
Wallaba
Sucupira
Meri
Mataki
Purple Heart

This South20 unique Wallaba hardwood-flooring product originates from the rain forest areas of Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname. It is common for the Wallaba tree to reach 80 to 90 ft in height with trunk diameters of 16 to 24 inch. The wood product is produced by local natives specifically for South20 from the Purpleheart tree that is native to these areas. South20 receives the material to the US in the form of raw cut lumber where it is placed in storage for air drying and kiln drying process. South20 will mill the lumber to specified dimensions to produce hardwood flooring and decking products.

Use:

Wallaba is recommended for wide use in floor coverings of residential homes with heavy human traffic. Those who prefer hardwood floors in lieu of the conventional ceramic or carpet covering should utilize this hardwood product. The South20 Wallaba hardwood product offers one of the most unique and durable woods on the market that will resist any sign of use and provide long lasting beauty. With the use of this product the covering becomes a permanent protection for the home or historic dwelling. The Wallaba product is a very unique item that will not be found on the common markets in the United States. For those who wish to have something different this pleasingly warm and beautifully colored wood will be the center of conversation for many years.

General Characteristics:

The Wallaba product's Heartwood is light to dark red to reddish or purplish-brown with characteristic dark gummy streaks; sharply demarcated from the narrow grayish or brownish-white sapwood, also streaked with gum. The luster is medium with rather fine texture and its grain is generally straight, at times interlocked or slightly wavy.

Weight:

Basic specific gravity (oven dry weight/ volume) 0.78; air-dry density 58 pcf.

side hardness is 1,540 lb at 12% moisture content.

The Hardness scale is a comparison chart to other woods.

Moisture Content	Bending Strength	Modulus of Elasticity	Maximum Crushing Strength
	PSI	1,000 PSI	PSI
Green	15,100	2,180	8,390
Dry	20,200	2,130	11,210

Drying and Shrinkage:

Wallaba dries very slowly with a marked tendency to check, split, and warp; honeycomb may develop in thick material. US kiln schedule T2-C2 for 4/4 stock and T2-C1 for 8/4. Air-drying should proceed kiln-drying. Shrinkage to overdry: radial 3.6%; tangential 6.9%; volumetric 10.0%.

Working Properties:

Though the wood has a high density, it is easy to work with hand and machine tools; however, high gum exudation clogs saw teeth and cutters. Once kiln dried, gum exudates are not a serious problem in machining; glues and polishes well.

Durability:

This Wallaba heartwood is reported to be very durable, resistant to subterranean termites, and fairly resistant to dry-wood termites.