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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Antiaris africana Trade Name Antiaris Family Name Moraceae Synonyms Antiaris usambarensis, Antiaris welwitschii Common Names Akede, Ako, Andoum, Antiaris, Bark cloth tree, Bofu-kenge, Bofue, Bofui, Bofuni, Bonkonko, Bovili, Chenchen, Diolosso, Egyany, Elwa, False iroko, False mvule, Fou, Hachu, Handame, Hanton, Jafo, Ju-u, Kakulu kodzo, Kan, Kesuba, Kirundu, Kudzo, Kyenkyen, Logotsi, Lulundu, Man, Mbondo, Mkunde, Mkunzu, Mkuzu, Mlulu, Mnguonguo, Muherere, Mulundo, Mulundulundu, Mumaka, Munsende, Mutie, Ofu, Ogiovu, Olwaa, Oro, Pau bicho branco, Pou, Ripi, Sansama, Sili, Terap, Tide, Tomboiro blanc, Toumboturo blanc, Tsangu, Upas tree, Zaadi Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulpwood, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Status unknown in many of its growth areas Secure in many areas of its range Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Unknown status in Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zaire Distribution Overview Tropical Africa. Heartwood Color Yellow Orange White Brown Green/grey Red Tan Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Greenish to greyish Yellowish tan Yellow - light Cream - light Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Same as heartwood White to yellow Not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Straight Weak (figure) Even Stripe (figure) Distinct (figure) Interlocked Straight Weak figure Striped figure Straight to interlocked Moderately to severely interlocked Distinct figure Annual rings are usually not discernible since the tree grows evenly all year round. The timber occasionally exhibits attractive striped figure on radial surfaces. Texture Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Moderately coarse Pores are reported to appear as coarse vessel lines on longitudinal surfaces, and are often diffused uniformly throughout the wood Luster Low High Medium Slightly lustrous Lustrous Dull Natural Growth Defects Large logs may have defective soft hearts Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Non durable Very little resistance to decay susceptible to sap stain Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack by the powder-post beetle Susceptible to attack by pin-hole borers Should be extracted and processed rapidly after harvesting Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Odor Has an odor Unpleasant odor which disappears after seasoning Toxicity Some toxic effects Poisonous Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a moderate speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Dry at a slow speed T2-D4(4/4);T2-D3(8/4)Us Schedule A; United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Discoloration Moderate end spitting Severe twisting/warping Severe cupping Moderate twist/warp Tendency to stain and slight distortion may occur Slight twist/warp Severe end splitting Moderate cupping Kilning gives best results, with minimal warping and splitting Air dries fairly rapidly Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Easy Dries rapidly and fairly easily Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries at a moderate speed Rapid Naturally dries slowly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 0-10 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Tendency to corrode and stain metals is controllable Very little or slight tendency to splinter Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Slight blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Difficult Should be adequately supported to prevent break-out at tool exits Easy The wood is fairly difficult to bore because of interlocked grain and soft fibrous tissue Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saw without difficulty Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Support material during mortising to prevent break out. Fairly difficult to mortise due to interlocked grain Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Medium Shows only small movement after manufacture Dimensionally stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Planing requires a cutting angle of 20 degrees to prevent interlocked grain from tearing out Ease of planing is moderate Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure system Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Works fairly easily with hand tools Cutting edges should be kept very sharp to prevent the wood from crumbling Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory screwing properties Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Used for decorative applications There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Slices into quartered veneers which usually exhibit an attractive striped figure Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Unsuitable Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very poor Poor Poor steam bending characteristics Painting Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Takes paint satisfactorily Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Poor results Generally polishes well Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally satisfactory Stains satisfactorily after surface preparation Finish is generally good Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory varnishing qualities Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Not hard Dents and marrs easily Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending stength to shock loads=low Average weight Average density Its strength in compression, or maximum crushing strength, is medium - lower than that of Mahogany or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5357 8301 psi Density 27 lbs/ft3 Hardness 469 lbs Impact Strength 14 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3127 5271 psi Shearing Strength 1071 psi Stiffness 955 1147 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 5 6 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.32 0.35 Weight 49 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 376 583 kg/cm2 Density 432 kg/m3 Hardness 212 kg Impact Strength 35 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 219 370 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 75 kg/cm2 Stiffness 67 80 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.42 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.32 0.35 Weight 785 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Babajide, Lucas E., Shegun, Ajayi D.,1966,Stiffness and specific gravity related to other mechanical properties for,seven tropical timbers.,Nigeria Federal Department Forest Research, Ibadan, Report No.10 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1964,Ako (Antiaris,Bois et Forets Tropiques,97,pp17-21 Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. 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