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Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 147 - Parota

Parota Lumber is slabtastic

This time I featured Parota or Guanacaste. The Costa Rican national tree and known for being avialable in wide slabs of red, ribbony goodness. I also discuss how to know if the wood you are buying will be good for the project you intend to build, and fungus..mmmm fungus. Why is it on the log I just sawed? Also trees that like lightening and....DA DA DAAAAH DUMMMM! NEW FEDERAL LANDS OPENED FOR LOGGING.

Lumber Industry News

A rainforest tree that likes being struck by lightning?What to do about Michigan red pine trees wiped out by an ice storm.New US federal lands opened for logging.

Audience Emails

Von asks how to know if a new wood is suitable for his current project.Zach found intense green staining on a Red Oak log he just sawed into boards.Jacob received a few slabs of Parota wood and asks for more details on its properties.

Featured Species: Parota

Enterolobium cyclocarpum or Parota or Guanacaste or Elephant Ear tree is a deep red wood with very little sapwood.  It's range is throughout central America but it is most often found in Costa Rica.  In fact it is the national tree of that country.  Known for its sustainable forestry management, Costa Rican wood is almost always 100% FSC.  Parota is a large tree with an average diameter of 5-8 feet.  It does not have a buttressed base so logs can be cut near the ground and not be so cumbersome to saw.  

It is quite soft for a tropical wood and relatively easy to work.  It can fuzz when planed so sharp blades and a lighter cut is recommended.  Expect to find this mostly available in wide, live edge slab form at your lumber yard.  

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