Goncolo Alves (Tigerwood)

Appearance: Goncalo Alves lumber is renowned for its striking appearance, featuring a vibrant golden to reddish-brown background with irregular, dark brown to blackish streaks or stripes. These markings resemble the stripes of a tiger, hence the name Tigerwood. The wood often exhibits an interlocking grain pattern with a fine to medium texture, adding depth and visual interest to its appearance.

1. Texture: Goncalo Alves has a moderately coarse texture with a smooth and polished surface. Its grain pattern can vary from straight to interlocked, contributing to its unique and distinctive appearance. When finished, Goncalo Alves displays a beautiful natural luster that enhances its overall aesthetic appeal.

2. Density and Hardness: Goncalo Alves is a dense and hard hardwood, ranking among the hardest woods available. Its high density and hardness contribute to its exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to wear. Goncalo Alves is particularly well-suited for high-traffic areas and heavy-duty applications, such as flooring, decking, and outdoor furniture.

3. Workability: Despite its hardness, Goncalo Alves lumber is relatively easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It cuts, planes, sands, and carves smoothly, allowing for intricate designs and fine detailing. Goncalo Alves also glues and finishes well, enabling a wide range of finishing options to enhance its natural beauty.

4. Stability: Goncalo Alves exhibits good stability, with minimal movement in response to changes in humidity and temperature. Proper drying and acclimation are important to minimize the risk of warping, twisting, or checking, ensuring dimensional stability in finished projects.

5. Durability: Goncalo Alves is highly durable and resistant to rot, decay, and insect infestation, making it suitable for both interior and exterior applications. Its natural hardness and density make it particularly well-suited for flooring, decking, outdoor furniture, and other high-impact projects where strength and resilience are essential.

6. Versatility: Goncalo Alves lumber is utilized in a variety of woodworking applications, including flooring, decking, cabinetry, furniture making, turnery, and decorative objects. Its striking appearance, exceptional durability, and versatile properties make it a favored choice among woodworkers, craftsmen, and designers seeking to create visually stunning and long-lasting wood products.

7. Sustainability: Goncalo Alves trees are typically harvested from sustainably managed forests, where responsible forestry practices help ensure the long-term health and viability of the species. Certification programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promote sustainable harvesting practices, supporting the continued availability of Goncalo Alves lumber for woodworking projects.

In summary, Goncalo Alves lumber offers a unique combination of stunning appearance, exceptional durability, and versatile properties that make it a prized material for high-quality woodworking projects. Its rich coloration, distinctive grain patterns, and natural luster make it a favorite among woodworkers, artisans, and designers seeking to create distinctive and visually captivating wood products.