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Blunting Effect Boring Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Pygeum africanum Trade Name Mueri Family Name Rosaceae Common Names Araruet, Bios de fer, Bitter Almond, Bitter amandel, Chati, Cherry, Dumizulu, Gyabizito, Iron wood, Kunukwa, Mgoturie, Mkomohoyo, Mkondekonde, Mseneo, Muchambati, Muchati, Muer, Mueri, Mueria, Mugote, Mutimailu, Mwiritsa, Ngote, Ngwabuzito, Ntasesa, Ol-koijuk, Omumba, Oromotet, Plum, Prunus africanum, Pypeum, Red ivory, Red stinkwood, Rode stinkhout, Tenduet, Tenetuet, Tungururiet, Twenduet Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Construction, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables, Tool handles, Truck bodies, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is rather secure within its natural habitat in most areas including Kenya and Uganda, but it is officially classified as Vulnerable in Cameroon. Its status in the wild is listed as unknown due to insufficient information in Angola, Equitorial Guinea, Tanzania, Zaire, and in the transkei region in South Africa Distribution Overview The species occurs primarily in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zaire, and grows in semi-tropical rain forests at elevations of 5000 to 9000 feet (1525 to 2745 m). Heartwood Color Black Brown Yellow Pink Red Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pale red when freshly cut, but ages to a rich red color Greenish to greyish Dark brown Sapwood Color White Brown Red Pinkish Paler than heartwood White to yellow Pale pink Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Variable (figure) Even Growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Coarse Medium Fine to medium Fine Luster Dull Natural Durability Very durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to marine borer attack Perishable Durable Very low natural resistance to decay and attack by termites Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Good resistance to the adverse effects of weather Woods with very low natural resistance may decay in less than 5 years if used in contact with the ground without any chemical protection Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 US=T3-C2/T3-C1 UK=C Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln-Drying is believed to be non-economical since the material requires long periods of mild schedules. Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Checking Ring Shakes Discoloration Splitting Moderate end spitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate collapse and honeycombing Severe end splitting Severe twisting/warping Moderate surface checking Collapse Timber dries slowly and is liable to split and distort, especially in large sizes Ease of Drying Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Thick Stock Requires Care Difficult Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Moderate There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Very good to excellent results Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Bores cleanly at slow speed Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Tends to split when nailed near the edges Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane The timber works easily planing, turning, boring, and other machining operations. It responds readily to both most machine tools, but it has some blunting effect on cutting edges. Resistance to Abrasion High Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is resistant The material is resistant to creosote impregnation, but incising would improve penetration. Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Routing yields good results Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good characteristics Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft Weight = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = very high High in density Hardness (side grain) = very hard Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Compression strength parallel to grain or maximum crushing strength is higher than in Teak or Hard maple. It is hard and superior to Teak and probably Mahogany Much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9524 15983 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1955 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5372 8510 psi Shearing Strength 2404 psi Stiffness 1491 1756 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 15 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.57 0.61 Weight 48 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 669 1123 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 886 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 377 598 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 169 kg/cm2 Stiffness 104 123 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 1.05 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.57 0.61 Weight 769 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Battiscombe, E., Dale, I.R.,1936,Trees and Shrubs of Kenya Colony,Govt. Printer Nairobi Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Brehme, K., et al,1967,Timbers of Ethiopia No.5 Ironwood (Pygeum africanum,Haile Sellassie Univ. Addis Ababa Forestry Res.Inst. Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R. H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Logan, W.E.M.,1946,An Introduction to the Forests of Central and Southern Ethiopia,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford Paper No.24 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3 Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forest Division,1967,Pygeum africanum (Mkomotoyo,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec.,Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1 Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47 Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya