Please note that iWood is a wholesale timber merchant, and to maintain such competitive prices, we have a minimum order amount of £750.00 ex VAT for delivery (£350.00 ex VAT for collection).

Ipe - Buy Online

Native to South America primarily Brazil, Ipe is a durable tropical hardwood used in a variety of joinery, most notably: decking and exterior flooring but often used for exterior joinery, tool handles and sometimes cladding.

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Please note that these images are to illustrate product type only and are not species specific.

Ipe Information

Appearance

Ipe can vary from reddish brown in colour to darker blackish brown and even olive brown with a yellowish tinge. Some pieces may have contrasting darker brown/black stripes. Ipe can look very similar to Cumaru.

Other Names

Ipi, Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho. Handroanthus Serratifolius and Handroanthus Impetiginosus.

Distribution

Central America and South America including Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, Mexica. Although, the majority of Ipe export is sourced from Brazil.

The Tree

Unbuttressed or with a low buttress the Ipe tree is a canopy tree reaching 30 - 40m high and 1m wide although can be found up to 2m wide. Clear cylindrical boles 15m to 18m are common.

The Timber

Initially, Ipe is yellowish green when freshly sawn but will turn to a light to dark olive brown with darker or lighter streaks when exposed to light. The sapwood is clearly defined, a greyish-white in colour and is between 38mm to 88mm wide. The grain is straight, occasionally irregular with a fine to medium texture and a low to medium lustre. Pores in the heartwood appear as yellow dots filled with lapachol (a fine yellow powder) and on the surface look like yellow lines.

Drying

Despite its high 1050 kg/m3 density, Ipe is fairly easy to dry. This quick drying can create slight warping and surface checking so slow kilning is recommended.

Strength

Ipe is extremely dense and hard wearing, comparable to that of greenheart.

Durability

Very Durable - Class 1

Working Qualities

Takes stain and polishes well, may require a small amount of grain filler. Ipe is difficult to work with due to its density and has a blunting effect on cutting edges, pre boring is recommended. Generally planes smooth but grain tearout can happen in interlocked areas and a 15 degree cutting angle is recommended. Straight grained boards turn well but can be difficult to glue.

Uses

Flooring, Decking, External Joinery, Tool handles and Cladding. Ipe, is one of the best timbers for external high traffic areas thanks to it being naturally hard wearing, exceptionally durable and highly insect resistant. Famous examples such as the New York City's Coney Island boardwalk, Walt Disney Boardwalk and the Atlantic City Boardwalk.