Mora – (Mora excelsa)
Scientific Name: Mora excelsa
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Common name (Guyana): Mora
International trade name: Mora
Wood Appearance
Mora heartwood varies from chocolate-brown to reddish-brown. Has a straight to interlocked grain, with a medium to coarse texture. Good natural luster.
Sapwood wide with yellowish to pale brown colour and is clearly established from heartwood.
Physical and Mechanical Properties
A very heavy, very hard wood. Outstanding strength properties, particularly resistant to wear.
| Average Dried Weight: | 63 lbs/ft3 (1,015 kg/m3) |
| Modulus of Rapture (Bending Strength) | 22,550 lbf/in2 |
| Janka Hardness: | Green Material: 1450lb Dried (12% MC): 2300lb |
| Elastic Modulus at 12% N/mm² | 2,790,000 lbf/in2 |
| Crushing Strength at 12% N/mm²: | 11,950 lbf/in2 |
| Shrinkage: | Radial: 6.7% Tangential: 9.9% Volumetric: 17.7% |
| Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): | .80, 1.01 |
Natural Durability
Heartwood durable and extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Timber Processing
Drying: Difficult, it must be carried out carefully because of processing risk of distortion and checking.
Sawing/Working: Power required, Difficult to saw, because of its density and interlocked grain. Blunting effect is moderate to high. With the same qualification, it can be planed, finishes smoothly, turns easily, splits with great difficulty.
Machining: Difficult due to hardness and highly interlocked grain.
Gluing: Special precaution needed
Nailing: Pre-boring necessary; holds nails and rail spikes well.
Finishing: Polishes and stains satisfactorily.
Uses: Best suited for heavy construction work, jetties and foreshore work. Particularly suitable for sleepers, wagon bottoms and for both traditional and parquet flooring.