GREENHEART

STRENGTHS

-dense,hard,and strong -poor seasoning and stability

 -extremely durable in water

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WEAKNESSES

-difficult to use

 -toxic when worked with

-poor seasoning and stability

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Wood Type: Tropical hardwood

Sources: Guyana and Venezuela

Cost: Not widely available,but can be found through specialist importers for a moderate cost for a tropical hardwood.

Greenheart (Ocotea rodiaei) is valued for its amazing natural durability and hardness. It is an excellent choice for marine construction. The colors of greenheart vary from green,dark brown,olive and yellow.

Greenheart is not an easy lumber to work. It causes blunting of tools and is very difficult to use with screws. Because of its toxicity while working it,the use of a face mask is recommended when machining and sanding this wood and special care when you get splinters as they can be poisonous. Greenheart is known to splinter easily. Greenheart can be used to construct boats and decking and is also used for bridges and jetties. It has been used for interior flooring and some furnishings.

 Greenheart is not listed as vulnerable and some certified greenheart is available through specialist importers.