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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources 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 Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering		Scientific Name Tetraberlinia bifoliolata Trade Name Akaba Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Common Names Akaba, Andoung, Apado, Berlinia, Ekaba, Ekap ribi, Eko andoung, Ekop, Ekop ribi, Gola, Hoh, Mudungu, Sikon, Tetraberlinia, Zebiche Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Status unknown in some areas due to inadequate information Rather secure within its natural growth range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Its status in the wild in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Zaire is listed as unknown because of insufficient information Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange White Red Pale red to pink Brown Pale brown Occasional dark streaks Greenish to greyish The wood is pale buff in color when freshly cut, rapidly turning pink upon exposure, with darker streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Paler than heartwood Well defined Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood Sapwood is very wide, from 1 to 5 inches (2.5 to 12.5 cm) in width Grain Interlocked Figure Even Distinct (figure) Straight Irregular Interlocked Straight Distinct and very fine figure Slightly crossed Irregular Grain is usually interlocked or slightly crossed, producing an attractive figure Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack by pinhole borers Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to attack by termites Heartwood resistant to decay Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Weathering Good Odor Has a taste No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Surface checks, end checks and fungal staining may also occur Moderate distortion may occur during drying Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Easy Dries slowly with little degrade Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced only occasionally and exported in negligible quantities. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Deposits General finishing qualities are rated as good Large logs often contain brittleheart. Natural Growth Defects Reaction with Metals - Contact with iron and iron compounds under moist conditions may promote staining in the wood. The timber is reported to often contain hard black kino. Blunting Effect Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Low resistance to sawing Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Adhesives may appear as dark blotches on wood surfaces. Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Holds nails well Good nailing characteristics Easy to nail Tmber may split if it is nailed too close to the edge. Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to plane Special attention required Planes well, to a good finish Tearing may occur on quartersawn surfaces in planing but reducing the cutting angle to 20 degrees is reported to yield smooth, clean surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Difficult to machine Straight-Grained timber responds readily to hand tools. Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Sanding Good sanding properties Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Screwing yields good results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly easy turning, boring, mortising and other machining operations Easy to turn Material with irregular grain is difficult to work, but most of the timber on the market is straight grained sapwood which responds rather well to both hand and machine tools Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moderate Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Polishes to a smooth finish Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Stains well Finish is generally satisfactory The wood stains well, except when very uneven grain is present. Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Heavy Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Dense Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9341 14432 psi Density 38 lbs/ft3 Hardness 992 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4549 7418 psi Shearing Strength 1507 psi Stiffness 1339 1563 1000 psi Weight 40 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 656 1014 kg/cm2 Density 608 kg/m3 Hardness 449 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 319 521 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 105 kg/cm2 Stiffness 94 109 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 641 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References 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 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables