Kabukalli – (Goupia glabra)
Scientific Name: Goupia glabra
Family: Calastraceae
Common name (Guyana): Kabukalli
International trade name: Kopi
Wood Appearance
Heartwood light reddish-brown of plain appearance, darkening on exposure. Grain straight, sometimes interlocked, texture medium to coarse and rather harsh. The freshly cut timber has an unpleasant odor which is lost on drying.
Sapwood distinct thick brownish or pinkish color and sharply demarcated.
Physical and Mechanical Properties
| Average Dried Weight: | 52 lbs/ft3 (830 kg/m3) |
| Modulus of Rapture (Bending Strength) | 122 at 12% N/mm² |
| Janka Hardness: | Green Material: 1400lb Dried (12% MC): 1840lb |
| Elastic Modulus at 12% N/mm² | 14700 |
| Crushing Strength at 12% N/mm²: | 62 |
| Shrinkage: | Radial: 5.1% Tangential: 8.8% Volumetric: 14.3% |
| Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): | .74 |
This is a tough hardwood with satisfactory medium dimensional stability and mechanical strength. Stronger than European Oak.
Natural Durability
Good durability. Withstands both insect and fungal attack under unfavourable conditions of use.
Timber Processing
Drying: Kilns easily and without degrade provided that it is dried slowly.
Sawing/Working: Generally satisfactory in sawing. Has a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges. Owing to wild grain, care is required in machining and planning to prevent tearing on quarter sawn surfaces. In moulding there is a tendency for areas to chip.
Machining: No important difficulty but care is required in the presence of highly interlocked grain.
Gluing: Glues well
Nailing: Difficult, pre-boring necessary to avoid splitting
Finishing: Suitable, sanding and filling are required.
Veneering: Easy to slice