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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
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Common Names
Kampanga, Kasanda, Mucherechese, Mucherekese, Mudyamhembge, Mukosho, Mulundu, Mushakashela, Mutseketsa, Naquada, Ndale, Pau ferro, Pau rosa, Snake bean, Snake bean tree, Swartzia, Umketsheketshe, Umtsakatsha, Umtshakatsha, Umtsheketshe
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Mozambique, Sudan, Zimbabwe
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Charcoal, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Toys, Turnery, Vats
Environmental Profile
| Endangered |
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| Abundant/Secure |
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Heartwood Color
| Brown |
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| Yellow |
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| Orange |
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| Red |
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| Green/grey |
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| Pink |
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| Purple |
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| Green |
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| Red |
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| Purple |
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| Brown |
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| Black |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Dark brown |
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Sapwood Color
| White |
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| Yellow |
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| Brown |
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| Red |
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| White to yellow |
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Grain
| Even |
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| Closed |
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| Figure |
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| Straight |
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| Wavy |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Wavy |
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| Straight |
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| Distinct and very fine figure |
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Texture
| Coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Fine to medium |
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Luster
Natural Durability
| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Durable |
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| Non-resistant to termites |
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| Non-resistant to marine borers |
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| Moderately durable |
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| Resistant to termites |
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| Very durable |
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| Non-resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Non-durable |
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| Resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Resistant to marine borers |
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| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Very durable |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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Kiln Schedules
Drying Defects
| Distortion |
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| Checking |
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| Splitting |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| Moderate surface checking |
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| Moderate end spitting |
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Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
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| Moderately Difficult to Difficult |
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| Rapidly |
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Kiln Drying Rate
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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| Bole length is 20-30 m |
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| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm |
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| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm |
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| Tree height is 40-50 m |
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| Bole length is 10-20 m |
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| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Bole length is 0-10 m |
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| Sapwood width is 10-15 cm |
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| Tree height is 10-20 m |
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Certified Source
Blunting Effect
| Moderate |
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| Little |
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| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe |
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Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy |
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| Fair to good results |
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Carving
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
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Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to glue |
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Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Movement in Service
| Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement |
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Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Pre-Boring Recommended |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Possible if prebored |
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| Difficult to nail |
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Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Planes well, to a good finish |
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| Easy to plane |
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Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood |
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| Resistant sapwood |
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| Permeable sapwood |
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| Heartwood is highly resistant |
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Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Responds Readily |
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| Difficult to machine |
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Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Good results |
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| Easy to turn |
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Veneering Qualities
| Suitable for peeling |
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| Veneers easily |
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| Veneers moderately easy |
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| Difficult to veneer |
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| Suitable for slicing |
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Steam Bending
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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Painting
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Polishing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Satisfactory results |
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| Good results |
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Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Poor results |
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Varnishing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Satisfactory |
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Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = small |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high |
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| Max. crushing strength = high |
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| Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium |
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Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 13576 | 20956 | psi |
| Density | | 60 | lbs/ft3 |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 2695 | psi |
| Stiffness | 2167 | 2494 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 59 | 53 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % |
| | | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 954 | 1473 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 961 | kg/m3 |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 189 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 152 | 175 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 945 | 849 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
References
Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa.
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
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
Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola
Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9
Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London
Pardy, A.A.,1954,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S.Rhodesia - Swartzia,madagascariensis,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia,Bulletin,No.1778
White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London
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