Goncalo Alves has a heartwood that is a medium reddish brown which will darken with age. The grain can be straight, but it’s usually wavy or interlocked and it has a fine uniform texture. The wood gives off a good natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. Goncalo Alves is fair to work with but does have a moderate blunting effect on cutters. It is difficult to glue because it has a very high resistance to moisture absorption. Other than that it turns and finishes well.