Ipe
Ipe, also known by its botanical name Tabebuia serratifolia (Bignoniaceae), is a beautiful, dense South American timber that is popularly used for decking and cladding. It has a fine to medium texture, with the grain varying from straight to irregular and/or interlocked. The heartwood of Ipe can range from a red-brown, yellow-olive brown, or even a dark blackish brown, sometimes with darker brown/black stripes. In certain species, there are powdery yellow deposits within the wood. Ipe can be difficult to differentiate visually from Cumaru, another dense South American timber, though Ipe tends to be darker in colour. When machining Ipe, it is important to take the necessary precautions as the dust can be potentially harmful to humans. However, when handled correctly, Ipe is a great, durable and attractive wood that is sure to last for years.
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Material Type:
Hardwood
Also Called:
Amapa Prieta, Bethabara, Bastard Lignum Vitue, Ipe Tabaco, Ebano Verde, Wassiba, Ironwood, Surinam Greenheart, Lapacho
Durability Notes:
Ipe is among the most durable timbers in the world, with exceptional resistance to decay, rot, and insect attack.
Properties:
Overall, Ipe is a challenging wood to work, being extremely hard and dense, with high cutting resistance during sawing. Ipe also has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges. The wood generally planes smoothly but the grain can lift in interlocked areas.
Typical Uses:
Flooring, decking, exterior lumber, veneer, tool handles, and other turned objects.
Moisture Content:
12-18% KD
Possible Health Risks:
The yellow dust can cause skin and eye irritation. May also cause shortness of breath, headache and visual disturbance.
Wood Worker's Thoughts:
Hazardous to health whilst machining, oily and finishes smooth. Often used for cladding - attractive and durable.
Interesting Facts:
Ipe was reportedly used for the boardwalk along the beach of New York City's Coney Island. It lasted 25 years before it needed to be replaced; an amazing lifespan with the amount of traffic and environmental stresses that this timber would have been under.
