Chakte Viga or Braziletto is the name given in Mexico to the wood of a tree (Caesalpinia platyloba) that is highly valued there for its unique color and great durability. The rather small tree is approx. 6 - 9 meters tall and grows in Mexico and Central America. The wood is fine-pored with a very fine structure and, despite its hardness, is very easy to work with. It impresses with its truly unique, deep, intense yellow-orange to orange-red, age-resistant color, which can sometimes be overlaid with a hint of red. Its extreme durability has been amply demonstrated in South America, where it is said to last up to a hundred years when used as a fence post. In appearance and properties, the wood is very similar to a famous close relative, the Brazil wood, pernambuco (Caesalpinia echinata), which is almost impossible to obtain and has been the first choice for bows for centuries due to its excellent mechanical properties.
