If you are looking to build something around your house that has to last for a long time, be very durable, and resilient to physical damage and the elements, then you’ve come to the right place.
Today, we’re going to do a side-by-side comparison of two of the most durable types of wood out there, ipe and Cumaru. We’re going to compare these two types of wood based on a variety of factors to determine which one is best for your next project.
What Is Ipe?
First, we have Ipe, which is also known as Brazilian walnut. This is a tropical hardwood tree that is deciduous. This tree is found mainly in South America, and, as you can tell, primarily in Brazil.
Many people really like this type of wood due to its beautiful appearance. It has an extremely fine texture with a very straight grain, although the grain may at times be interlocked or irregular. Moreover, there is a good deal of variation from one tree to another.
As for the color, the heartwood is reddish-brown, although it can also be olive-brown or yellowish in color. This is a type of wood that contains a whole lot of natural oils and resins, which allows it to be extremely resistant to pests, insects, fungi, mold, moisture, and decay.
Ipe is actually one of the most durable types of wood that you can use, and it is suitable for a wide variety of purposes, including both outdoor and indoor use. It can be used for siding, fencing, decking, furniture, floors, walls, boat building, and more.
What Is Cumaru?
We then have Cumaru, which is also known as Brazilian teak. This is the type of wood that grows all throughout South America, and again, specifically in Brazil.
This is a deciduous tropical hardwood tree that can grow up to 160’ in height. It features a medium to dark brown heartwood that has a purplish or reddish hue. It has an interlocked grain with a medium texture, and it has a somewhat waxy feel. The texture of this one is somewhat coarse. Most people would say that it is a very nice-looking type of wood.
Cumaru is also an extremely hard, dense, and durable material that is extremely resistant to many forms of physical damage. At the same time, it also contains a good deal of natural resins and oils, which when combined with its hardness and density, allow for great resistance toward the elements.
This wood is most often used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, docks, railroad ties, boat building, handles, bearings, and heavy construction purposes, as it is structurally sound.
Ipe vs. Cumaru: What Are the Differences?
Now that we know what both Ipe and Cumaru are, let’s figure out what makes these two types of wood different from each other.
Hardness
The Ipe tree features a hardness rating of 3,510 lbf on the Janka hardness scale. On the other hand, Brazilian teak comes in at 3,330 lbf. This means that the Ipe tree is just slightly harder, which therefore means that it is more resilient towards physical damage, such as denting and scratching. That said, the difference here is fairly negligible.
Density
In terms of weight, Cumaru comes in at 68 lbs per cubic foot. On the other hand, Ipe comes in at 69 lbs per cubic foot. As you can see, these two types of wood weigh nearly the same amount. Although there is a small difference between them, it is also quite small.
Pest and Moisture Resistance
What is important to note about both of these types of wood is that they are extremely durable when it comes to the elements. Both are extremely resistant to moisture, rotting, and decay. They can easily be used outdoors, even for marine-related purposes. Moreover, they are also very resistant to pests. With that being said, Ipe is somewhat susceptible to marine borers or marine insects. However, in the grand scheme of things, both of these types of wood are excellent for outdoor use.
Overall Strength
In terms of overall strength, both of these types of wood are fairly even. For instance, Brazilian teak has a higher modulus of elasticity than Brazilian walnut. It also features a higher compressive strength. However, Brazilian walnut features a higher modulus of rupture. If you take a look at all of the numbers, they’re all quite similar. In the grand scheme of things, both are very strong and similar to each other.
Workability
Although it is really not a difference, we do feel it is worth noting that both of these two types of wood are very hard to work with. They’re just very dense, hard, and durable overall, which can wreak havoc on cutting tools.
Appearance – Color and Grain
Ipe tends to have a yellowish or olive-brown color, whereas cumaru tends to have more of a reddish-brown color. Both types of wood often have an interlocked grain, although they may also have a straight grain. Cumaru tends to be quite waxy, whereas ipe tends to have a medium luster. Most people would agree that cumaru is the better-looking of the two.
Cost
What is interesting to note is that Ipe usually won’t cost more than around $12 per board foot, while Cumaru can cost you up to $15 per board foot.
When to Use Ipe?
Ipe is most commonly used for veneer, tool handles, turned objects, flooring, decking, boat building, and other purposes. It is very tough, durable, hard, moisture-resistant, and more. It is a very good type of wood to use for virtually any and every purpose out there.
When to Use Cumaru?
What is interesting to note is that both of these types of wood are generally used for many of the same purposes, such as the ones we listed above. This type of wood is also very hard, durable, moisture-resistant, and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. It’s a type of wood that you can use for decorative pieces, flooring, cabinets, turned objects, veneer, decking, and so much more.
Alternatives to Ipe and Cumaru
Both of these types of wood are very hard and difficult to work with. If you’d rather have a softwood that is much easier to work with, something like pine, fir, or spruce all make for good options.
On the other hand, if you want something similar to ipe, check this article.
Summary
Now that you know what Ipe and Cumaru are, you can choose between them. When it comes down to it, these are both some of the most durable, hardest, and most structurally sound types of wood that you could use for any purpose out there.