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Blunting Effect Boring 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools 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 tubmaniana Trade Name Ekop Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Common Names African pine, Blo-tu, Ekaba, Eko-andoung, Ekop, Ekop-ribi, Gola, Hoh, Liberian pine, Sikon, Sikon ekop, Tetraberlinia Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Liberia Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, General carpentry, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Toys, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status unknown due to inadequate information Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview The species occurs in large concentrations in the evergreen rain forests along the coastal region of Liberia. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow Black Orange Purple Green/grey Reddish brown Pale red to pink Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grey Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Sapwood is wide, about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) Grain Figure Interlocked Stripe (figure) Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Interlocked Striped figure Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Produces an attractive figure. Texture Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Medium Coarse The wood has an oily feel. Luster Slightly lustrous Lustrous Fairly lustrous Natural Durability Durable Very durable Resistant to termites Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood has moderate resistance to attack by decay fungi Weathering Excellent Odor Has a taste No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Uneven Moisture Content Discoloration Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Uncontrolled drying conditions may cause timber to develop severe end and surface checks Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Variable Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries very slowly Timber is prone to degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 60-70 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is greater than 70 m Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bark width is 10-15 mm Bark width is 15-20 mm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Product Sources Ekop is quite abundant within its range. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Very good to excellent results Responds well to most machining operations including boring and mortising Cutters should be kept sharp when working quartersawn material Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Fairly easy to saw The timber is reported to cut without difficulty in sawing and other maching operations Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to mould Moulding qualities are superior to those of American Black walnut, but is slightly inferior to those of Honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla ). Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Ease of planing is moderate Easy to plane Quartersawn material may tear in planing and requires sharp cutting tools, but the timber is generally easy to work. Planing properties are similar to those of Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera ). Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Excellent Easy to turn Ekop is described as an excellent wood for turnery work, although turning qualities are inferior to those of American Black walnut (Juglans nigra ). Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Easy to cut Suitable for veneers Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Ekop is reported to slice very well into veneers for decorative applications. Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Work to Maximum Load = very low Very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Dense Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = low