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Santos Mahogany (Quina)
Wood Flooring Species
Scientific Name:
Myroxylon peruiferum
Other Names and Species:
Balsamo
Cabriziva
Cedro Chino
Chirraca
Incienso
Nabal
Palo de Balsamo
Quina
Santos Mahogany
Sandalo
Tache
Tolu
Origin:
Wide distribution, from southern Mexico southward through Central America down to Argentina. A related species, Myroxylon balsamum (Cabreuva), also goes by the name of “Santos Mahogany.”
Appearance:
The very fine and even texture of this well-known and popular hardwood, along with its striped figuring, complements the attractive dark reddish-brown color of mahogany wood flooring. The white sapwood is sharply demarcated from the heartwood. The grain of mahogany is typically interlocked, and the surface can have a medium to high luster. When freshly cut, it has a pleasant spicy scent.
Properties:
Santos mahogany is known for its strength and beauty, and it has outstanding durability. Given its hardness and color-fastness, santos mahogany is a superior choice compared to genuine Honduran mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla), which it closely resembles in color. In fact, although genuine mahogany is traditionally chosen for fine furniture and millwork, it is seldom used in wood flooring because it lacks sufficient hardness to withstand constant foot traffic.
Janka Hardness: 2200
Santos mahogany is one of the hardest and most durable wood flooring species. Brazilian cherry is one of the few flooring species harder than santos mahogany. It is over two hundred percent harder than Douglas-fir, roughly fifty-one percent harder than hard maple, about one-third harder than wenge, and it approaches ninety-four percent of Brazilian cherry’s ranking of 2350.
Workability:
Because of its hardness, which can make sawing and machining difficult, carbide tooling is recommended for santos mahogany wood flooring. It sands beautifully to a high natural polish, however, and has good holding ability.
Principal Uses:
Mahogany is typically found in wood flooring, turnery, interior trim, and furniture. The pleasantly aromatic balsam of santos mahogany is often used as an ingredient in some perfumes.
