CHECHEM
(also commonly called chechen)
BOTANICAL NAME: Metopium brownei of the family Anacardiaceae

COMMON NAMES: the most common alternate name in America is chechen. Other common names include black poison, black poisonwood, boarwood, bumwood, cedro, prieto, chachin, chechem negro, cochinilla, cochinillo, coral sumach, cotinillo, guao, guao de costa, guao de peadero, manceniller, mulatre, malo de rosa, papayo, papyo, poisonwood, poisontree

TYPE: hardwood

COLOR: Various reports all say pretty much the same, which is this --- heartwood comes in various shades of brown including chocolate and reddish brown, sometimes with copper accents. Has dark striping/highlights and may have shades of reds and maroons. Sapwood is grayish tan. My own experience, however, is that often the wood looks more green than red, or at the very least is a greenish red. You'll see this back on the wood pic page both in my own samples and in the pics from the internet

GRAIN: close, tight grain, usually straight but with some mottled or wavy figure; exhibits a lot of variety in pattern and can be very attractive

TEXTURE: smooth

PROPERTIES / WORKABILITY: very hard and dense but fairly easy to work; saws, turns, and glues well, sands to a very high polish due to the density

DURABILITY: moderate

FINISH: has a high natural luster and takes a fine finish. Takes lacquer and varnish finishes well, but responds poorly to polyurethane unless there is a base coat of dewaxed shellac

STABILITY: small movement in service

BENDING: I did not find any reports but based on the hardness and density, I'd guess that it is not a good wood for bending (veneer might be an exception)

ODOR: no specific smell or taste

SOURCES: Mexico and Central America. Some reports include Oceania and S.E. Asia

USES: boxes and crates, cabinetmaking, chairs, charcoal, decorative veneer, flooring, furniture, heavy construction, paneling, pool cues, railroad ties, turnery

TREE:

WEIGHT: reports say 53-62 lbs/cu. ft. but I have measured planks up to 66 lbs/cuft

DRYING:

AVAILABILITY: readily available (use the names chechen or chechem)

COST:

web quotes:
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Careful selection and matching is essential because of wide color variations

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The wide variety of grain pattern and figure makes this an especially interesting exotic wood, but also suggests that the user carefully select each board for desired appearance.