Jutahy Hardwood (Dialium guianense)

Family
Caesalpiniaceae

Scientific Name
Dialium guianense

Other Names
Come Negro (Nicaragua), Paleto (Honduras), Tamarindo, Jutahy (Brazil), Cacho (Venezuela), Ironwood

General Description

One of the more prominent tropical hardwood species on the Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras, Jutahy is one of the world’s hardest species. Its tight grain, typically a reddish-brown in the heartwood, is straight and occasionally interlocked. It is highly valued for its strength and durability for a variety of uses.

Workability

Because of its spectacular density, Jutahy can be difficult to cut and plane without stelite or tungsten carbide steel cutting tools. Dulling effect considerably high due to the extreme hardness and high silica content. The grain does respond well to polishing and sanding, and displays a beautiful finished look when sealed.

Drying

Jutahy dries at a slow rate, and develops only modest deformations and checking. For kiln drying, schedules T3-C2 and T3-C1 are recommended for 4/4 and 8/4 stocks, respectively.

Durability

The heartwood is remarkably dense and perfectly suited for load-bearing construction members. Dialium guianense is also incredibly resistant to insect attack, decay, and rotting when used in direct ground contact. Finding a more durable hardwood species would be difficult.

Uses

Heavy construction, roof components, posts, beams, railroad crossties, industrial decking, any exterior structure

Technical Data*

Janka hardness: 4,000 lbs

Density: 961 Kg/m3

Bending strength: 27,934 psi

Modulus of elasticity: 2,930 (1,000 psi)

Tangential shrinkage: 8.9%

Radial shrinkage: 5.3%

* all values given at 12% moisture content

Download more Jutahy info here:
- FSC description
- USDA Forest Service description
- CIRAD description