About the wood
Espavel
Anacardium excelsum
The wild cashew of Central and South America, a close relative of the tree that gives the cashew nut. Golden heartwood with a green cast that ages to reddish brown, beside a wide gray-to-pink sapwood band; not commonly exported, so an occasional find rather than a stock item.
- Janka
- 470 lbf
- Origin
- Central and South America, Costa Rica south to Ecuador
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern
Working & finishing
Generally easy to work, though planing and sanding can be problematic because of the interlocked grain and low density: the surface fuzzes and tears rather than cutting clean. Use freshly sharpened knives at a shallow depth, sand with the grain, and raise the grain once with a damp rag and re-sand before oiling. The Wood Database publishes no gluing or finishing rating for it. Reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation and asthma-like symptoms, so dust collection and a mask matter.
Care
Wipe spills promptly and clean with a damp cloth. At 470 lbf it is a soft top and will dent under hard use; use pads under heavy objects. Rated moderately durable to non-durable with poor insect resistance, so keep it indoors and dry. Expect the golden heartwood to turn reddish brown with age.