WOOD
I am currently building weapons from a variety of domestic and exotic hardwoods. Although I choose colors and combinations of wood for beauty and interest, I am only using woods with excellent hardness and solid crushing strength. Below you will find definitions,details, and statistics on each wood I use, courtesy of the wood database.
HICKORY
Common Name(s): Shagbark Hickory
Scientific Name: Carya ovata
Distribution: Eastern United States
Average Dried Weight: 50 lbs/ft3 (800 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .64, .80
Janka Hardness: 1,880 lbf (8,360 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 20,200 lbf/in2 (139.3 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 2,160,000 lbf/in2 (14.90 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 9,210 lbf/in2 (63.5 MPa)
JATOBA
Common Name(s): Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry
Scientific Name: Hymenaea courbaril
Distribution: Central America, southern Mexico, northern South America, and the West Indies
Average Dried Weight: 57 lbs/ft3 (910 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .77, .91
Janka Hardness: 2,690 lbf (11,950 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 22,510 lbf/in2 (155.2 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 2,745,000 lbf/in2 (18.93 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 11,780 lbf/in2 (81.2 MPa)
PURPLEHEART
Common Name(s): Purpleheart, Amaranth
Scientific Name: Peltogyne spp.
Distribution: Central and South America (from Mexico down to southern Brazil)
Average Dried Weight: 56 lbs/ft3 (905 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .76, .90
Janka Hardness: 2,520 lbf (11,190 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 22,000 lbf/in2 (151.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 2,937,000 lbf/in2 (20.26 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 12,140 lbf/in2 (83.7 MPa)
IPE
Common Name(s): Ipe, Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho
Scientific Name: Handroanthus spp.
Distribution: Tropical Americas (Central and South America); also farmed commercially
Average Dried Weight: 69 lbs/ft3 (1,100 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .91, 1.10
Janka Hardness: 3,500 lbf (15,620 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 25,660 lbf/in2 (177.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 3,200,000 lbf/in2 (22.07 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 13,600 lbf/in2 (93.8 MPa)
BLOODWOOD
Common Name(s): Bloodwood, Satine
Scientific Name: Brosimum rubescens
Distribution: Tropical South America
Average Dried Weight: 66 lbs/ft3 (1,050 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .90, 1.05
Janka Hardness: 2,900 lbf (12,900 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 25,290 lbf/in2 (174.4 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 3,013,000 lbf/in2 (20.78 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 14,310 lbf/in2 (98.7 MPa)
PADUAK
Common Name(s): African Padauk, Vermillion
Scientific Name: Pterocarpus soyauxii
Distribution: Central and tropical west Africa
Average Dried Weight: 47 lbs/ft3 (745 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .61, .75
Janka Hardness: 1,970 lbf (8,760 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 16,830 lbf/in2 (116.0 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,700,000 lbf/in2 (11.72 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 8,130 lbf/in2 (56.0 MPa)
RED PALM
Common Name(s): Red Palm, Coconut Palm
Scientific Name: Cocos nucifera
Distribution: Throughout the tropics worldwide
Average Dried Weight: 51 lbs/ft3 (820 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .68, .82
Janka Hardness: 1,900 lbf (8,430 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 12,970 lbf/in2 (89.4 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,654,000 lbf/in2 (11.41 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 9,590 lbf/in2 (66.2 MPa)
KATALOX
Common Name(s): Katalox, Mexican Royal Ebony
Scientific Name: Swartzia spp. (S. cubensis)
Distribution: Southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America
Average Dried Weight: 72 lbs/ft3 (1,150 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .94, 1.15
Janka Hardness: 3,660 lbf (16,260 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 28,010 lbf/in2 (193.2 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 3,715,000 lbf/in2 (25.62 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 15,240 lbf/in2 (105.1 MPa)
