Page 5 - OHC Hard Woods Tech Guide - 08102017

IPE

CHARACTERISTICS

Common Name(s) Workability

Ipe (ee-pay), Ironwood, Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho Overall, Ipe can be a difficult wood to work, being
Scientific Name extremely hard and dense, with high cutting resistance

Handroanthus spp. (formerly Tabebuia) during sawing. Ipe also has a pronounced blunting effect
Distribution on cutting edges. The wood generally planes smoothly, but
Tropical Americas (Central and South America) the grain can tear out on interlocked areas. Also, Ipe can

Tree Size be difficult to glue properly, and surface preparation prior
100-130 ft. tall with a 2-4 ft. trunk diameter to gluing is recommended. Straight-grained wood turns
well, though the natural powdery yellow deposits can
Color/Appearance sometimes interfere with polishing or finishing the wood.
Heartwood can vary in color from reddish brown, to a
more yellowish olive brown or darker blackish brown; Odor
sometimes with contrasting darker brown/black stripes. In Ipe has a mild scent while being worked.

certain species, there are powdery yellow deposits within Allergies/Toxicity
the wood. Ipe can be difficult to distinguish visually from Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Ipe has
Cumaru, another dense South American timber, though Ipe been reported to cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation,
tends to be darker, and lacks the subtle yet characteristic as well as other effects such as headaches, asthma-like
vanilla/cinnamon scent while being worked. symptoms, and/or disturbance of vision.

Grain/Texture Sustainability
Has a fine to medium texture, with the grain varying from Ipe is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN
straight to irregular or interlocked. Moderate natural
luster. Red List of Threatened Species. However, Ipe species grow
in very low densities, with mature trees only occurring once
Endgrain per 300,000 to 1,000,000 square feet (3 to 10 hectares) of
Diffuse-porous; solitary and radial multiples; medium forest area. This necessitates the clearing of large sections
to large pores in no specific arrangement, moderately of rainforest trees (most of which are of little commercial
numerous to numerous; tyloses and mineral/gum deposits

occasionally present; parenchyma unilateral, winged, value). Though uncommon, certified sources of Ipe are
and marginal; narrow rays, spacing normal; ripple marks occasionally available.
present. Uses
Rot Resistance Flooring, decking, siding, soffits, exterior lumber, veneer,

Rated as very durable; excellent insect resistance, though tool handles, and other turned objects.
some species are susceptible to marine borers. Superb
weathering characteristics.

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OHC Hard Woods Tech Gd.indd 5 8/10/17 1:31 PM