Cedrorana (*Cedrelinga catenaeformis*) for Wood and Epoxy Tabletops
Cedrorana, botanically classified as Cedrelinga catenaeformis, is a Latin American hardwood harvested from countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and French Guiana. When selecting wide slabs or dimensional boards for custom furniture and epoxy river builds, examining empirical timber data is essential. The following technical evaluation draws directly from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet to help builders and buyers understand how Cedrorana behaves alongside cured resin.
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Cedrelinga catenaeformis | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Light brown; texture coarse; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain slight | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.51 | about 31.8 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 5.3 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 2.0 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 6.9 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 3.8 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 1.8 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.46 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Fibre saturation point | 29 % | |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.18 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 38 MPa | about 5,510 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 70 MPa | about 10,150 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 10,900 MPa | about 1,581,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 3 – moderately durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class S – susceptible | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class S – susceptible (risk in all the wood) | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 2-3 – poorly to moderately permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 2 – inside or under cover (dampness possible) | |
| Drying | rate rapid; distortion: slight risk; checking: slight risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 55–65 °C | about 131–149 °F |
| Machining | blunting normal; saw teeth: ordinary or alloy steel; cutting tools: ordinary | |
| Nailing and screwing | Poor | |
| CITES status | This species is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025). |
Values from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet (average values for mature wood, 12% moisture content where noted). US-unit conversions are calculated by BigEpoxy (1 MPa = 145.04 psi; density = specific gravity × 62.43 lb/ft³).
What does Cedrorana wood look like in a tabletop or river slab?
Cedrorana heartwood presents a light brown coloration characterized by subtle pink or orangey glints. Its sapwood is not clearly demarcated from the heartwood and typically measures between 5 and 8 cm in thickness. The wood exhibits a coarse texture, which can create distinct visual contrast against deep-pour resin castings. The grain is straight or interlocked, though interlocked grain is officially rated as slight. In quartersawn material, the grain can sometimes appear oblique. Log diameters typically range from 70 to 120 cm, offering generous widths for tabletop slabs.
How heavy and hard is Cedrorana timber?
At 12% moisture content, Cedrorana has a specific gravity of 0.51, which corresponds to an average density of about 31.8 lb/ft³. For tabletop builders, this means a standard 2-inch-thick surfaced slab weighs roughly 5.3 lb per square foot, making it moderately lightweight compared to dense tropical hardwoods.
Regarding surface resistance, CIRAD Tropix rates Cedrorana with a Monnin hardness of 2.0 at 12% moisture content. The Monnin index is a standardized French hardness scale where higher numerical values represent harder woods. It is not equivalent to the American Janka hardness scale and cannot be converted to it. A Monnin rating of 2.0 signifies a softer to medium-density wood that works comfortably in interior tabletops but requires awareness during everyday use to prevent severe surface dents.
How stable is Cedrorana when bonded to an epoxy river?
Because cured epoxy resin does not shrink or expand with seasonal humidity, timber paired with it must exhibit manageable dimensional movement to prevent bond-line failure. Cedrorana has a total tangential shrinkage of 6.9% and a total radial shrinkage of 3.8% from green to oven-dry conditions. This results in a tangential-to-radial shrinkage ratio (St/Sr) of 1.8.
Its coefficient of volumetric shrinkage is 0.46% per 1% change in moisture content, with a fibre saturation point established at 29%. A ratio of 1.8 indicates a moderate tendency toward cupping if moisture varies across the slab thickness. Proper interior climate control and uniform sealing across both the top and underside of the table are critical to minimize stress along the wood-to-epoxy seam.
What drying risks should builders manage before pouring resin?
The drying rate for Cedrorana is classified as rapid. CIRAD Tropix records only a slight risk of distortion and a slight risk of checking during the drying cycle. Furthermore, there is no known specific risk of internal collapse or casehardening. Suggested kiln programs operate within a temperature window of 55 to 65 °C (about 131 to 149 °F). Slabs must be thoroughly equalized to interior moisture levels before pouring epoxy to ensure the core is stable.
How does Cedrorana machine, and how should surfaces be prepped?
Cedrorana produces normal blunting effects on tooling. Cutting tools and saw teeth made from ordinary or alloy steel perform reliably without requiring specialized carbide setups. However, the technical sheet notes two crucial shop factors:
- Fuzzy surface: Cedrorana tends to yield a fuzzy texture during milling and sanding.
- Pore filling: Because of the coarse grain and fuzzing tendency, surface filling is officially recommended to obtain a smooth, high-quality finish.
- Health precaution: Cedrorana sawdust can irritate the nose and throat, requiring effective dust extraction and personal protective equipment.
For epoxy river builds, pre-sealing the live edges with a thin brush coat of epoxy will seal the coarse pores, lock down fuzzy fibers, and minimize outgassing bubbles in the deep river pour.
How does Cedrorana perform with screws and fasteners?
The CIRAD Tropix data rates nailing and screwing holding strength as poor, noting that fastener holding varies directly with the specific gravity of the specimen. When attaching heavy steel table bases or stiffening C-channels to a Cedrorana tabletop, builders should rely on threaded brass or steel inserts rather than direct coarse-thread wood screws to prevent stripped fastener holes.
What are the durability ratings, end-uses, and CITES status?
Cedrorana heartwood is classified as Durability Class 3 (moderately durable) against wood-decaying fungi. However, it is rated Class S (susceptible) to dry-wood borers throughout all of the wood, as well as Class S to termites. Its heartwood treatability is Class 2–3 (poorly to moderately permeable). CIRAD assigns it to Use Class 2, which corresponds to interior applications or sheltered environments where dampness is possible.
Officially recorded end-uses include current furniture or furniture components, interior and exterior joinery, panelling, mouldings, glued laminated timber, and turnery. The species is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025), making it legally compliant for trade.
Sources
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: Freshly harvested Cedrorana logs naturally float in water, but CIRAD Tropix rates raw log durability as low, emphasizing that prompt extraction or protective log treatment is necessary before conversion into tabletop slabs to prevent pest degradation. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Cedrorana.)