About the wood
Cumaru
Dipteryx odorata
The tonka bean tree, with the vanilla-cinnamon scent of coumarin when cut. Sold as Brazilian Teak for flooring and unrelated to real teak; the hardest wood on OCC's list, and since November 2024 every Dipteryx import moves under CITES Appendix II paperwork.
- Janka
- 3330 lbf
- Density
- 68.0 lb/ft³
- Origin
- Northern South America
- IUCN Red List
- Data Deficient
Working & finishing
Difficult to work on account of its density and interlocked grain; silica gives a moderate blunting effect, so run carbide and shallow planer passes. High oil content and density make gluing difficult: wipe every joint with acetone or denatured alcohol right before the adhesive goes on. Pre-bore every fastener or it snaps. Oil and hardwax finishes suit it; a film finish wants a solvent wipe or a dewaxed shellac barrier first.
Care
Wipe spills and clean with a damp cloth; at 3,330 lbf it will not dent under ordinary use. Rated very durable against decay and termites, so it can live outdoors, but its shrinkage is in the oak range: an outdoor top will open and close with the seasons and grays without an annual oil.