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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
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Tieghemella heckelii

Trade Name
Makore

Family Name
Sapotaceae

Synonyms
Tieghemella heckeliana, Dumoria heckelii


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Abacu, Abako, Abaku, Abecou, African cherry, Agamokive, Agamokwe, Aganokpe, Aganokwe, Asaka, Babou, Babu, Bagwain, Bako, Baku, Butusu, Cherry mahogany, Dimori, Dimpapi, Diutu, Djuru-tu, Douka, Dumone, Dumori, Edinam, Edumoi, Gofilei, Gwa, Hochioo, Ipaki, Konoo-findo, Makarou, Makore, Makori, Makwe, Mbabou, N'duka, Nduka, Okola, Okolla, Opapea, Opepe, Rubber tree, Ukola, Wosima, Wosime

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat
Status unknown in some areas due to inadequate information
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Vulnerable in the Ivory Coast. Status unknown in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone

Distribution Overview
The growth range of this species extends from Sierra Leone to south-western Nigeria.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
White
Orange
Brown
Red
Green/grey
Reddish brown
Pale red to pink
Brown
Red
Purple
Dark brown
Dark brown
Pale brown

The wood is reported to resemble close-grained mahogany or plain-sawn Sapele. The heartwood varies in color from pink to rich red-brown, or pink-red to blood red and red-brown.

Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Brown
Red
White to yellow
Pinkish
Paler than heartwood
Well defined
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood

Sapwood is usually 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) wide.

Grain
Figure
Straight
Distinct (figure)
Interlocked
Mottled (figure)
Stripe (figure)
Wavy
Closed
Even

Straight
Distinct figure
Interlocked
Mottled figure
Striped figure
Wavy

Interlocked grain produces an attractive mottled figure, occasionally with darker streaks. Figured material exhibits a very striking moire or watered-silk pattern.

Texture
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Even or uniform
Uniform
Fine
Medium
Very fine
Uniform


Luster
Medium
High
Low
Pronounced
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Perishable
Very durable
Non-resistant to marine borers
Very durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Durable
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Heartwood resistant to decay
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Heartwood is resistant to attack by termites and Anobium borers

The timber is occasionally attacked by stain, pinhole borers, and longhorn borers.

Odor
No specific smell or taste


Silica Content
Moderate silica contact
Contains high levels of silica (> 0.5% of dry weight)


Toxicity
Some toxic effects
Unspecified toxicity
Respiratory effects
Dermatitic effects
Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals
Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4
T10 - D4S(4/4); T8 - D3S (8/4) US
Schedule H (4/4) United Kingdom


Drying Defects
Distortion
Splitting
Loose Knots
Slight end splitting
No end splitting
Slight twist/warp
No twisting or warping
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate end spitting
May check slightly and some 1 inch (25 mm) thick boards may twist during drying

Minimal splitting around knots may develop.

Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Thick Stock Requires Care
Reconditioning Treatement
Easy
Dries slowly with little degrade


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Rapid
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast
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 not buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Tree height is 40-50 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Tree height is 50-60 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Sapwood width is 10-15 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm
Bole length is 30-40 m


Product Sources
Makore trees tend to be very large, with logs that commonly produce from 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of consistent and uniform material. Trees often have a high percentage of figured material per log, which allows big projects to be accomplished in single long runs and in sequence. Although the wood is not light colored, it is very popular because of its distinctive appearance. Seeds produced by the tree are reported to yield an edible oil.

Supplies in the veneer form are rather plentiful, and the material is also available in the lumber form from importers. Prices are in the moderate range.

The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber for export. The timber is a popular architectural wood.

Certified Source
Certified Source


Substitutes
Moabi (Baillonella toxisperma). Nyatoh (Dichopsis elliptica syn. Palaquium and elliptica) is similar in appearance.

Comments
Corrosive Materials - Contact with iron may stain the wood blue, especially under moist conditions.

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is severe
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate
Severe blunting effect on cutting surfaces
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe

Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate

Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Fairly easy to very easy
Tends to char during boring
Difficult


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to carve


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult
High cutting resistance because of high silica content

Tungsten carbide tipped cutters are required for material with moisture content below 20 percent.

Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Satisfactory gluing properties
Good gluing properties


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Responds fairly well to mortising operations

The timber responds fairly well to mortising operations, but it may have rather severe and rapid blunting effect on cutting edges.

Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Material responds well to moulding operations
Cutters tend to dull rapidly


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Small
Stable
Holds shape well after manufacture


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to nail
Tends to split during nailing
Pre-boring required
Possible if prebored
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to plane
Planes well, to a good finish
Special attention required

The timber works reasonably well with machine tools, but it dulls cutting edges rather severely and quickly because of high silica content. A cutting angle of 20 degrees is required in planing.

Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is resistant
Sapwood is extremely resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities
Difficult to machine
Responds well to hand tools
High silica content dulls cutter blades rapidly and severely


Routing & Recessing
Good routing qualities

Material with high silica content may promote rapid blunting of cutting edges

Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory sanding properties
Easy to sand


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Easy to screw
Pre-Boring is recommended in screwing


Turning
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair

Turning operations are reasonable, but it may be accompanied by severe and rapid dulling of cutting edges

Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
No drying degrade
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Suitable for slicing
Suitable for peeling


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Tends to Degrade
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moderate


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Surface Preparation
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Surface Preparation
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory results
Good results
Pre-Treat wood surface for best results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Surface Preparation
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finish is generally satisfactory
Reacts with Iron to discolour wood
Finish is generally good
For best results use a filler
Excellent staining qualities


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Resists denting and marring
Heavy
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Dense
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = very high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1052514623psi
Density43lbs/ft3
Hardness1294lbs
Impact Strength2929inches
Maximum Crushing Strength50057677psi
Shearing Strength2260psi
Stiffness123915051000 psi
Work to Maximum Load1316inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.540.6
Weight4039lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage11%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength7391028kg/cm2
Density689kg/m3
Hardness586kg
Impact Strength7373cm
Maximum Crushing Strength351539kg/cm2
Shearing Strength158kg/cm2
Stiffness871051000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.911.12cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.540.6
Weight641624kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

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

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1955,Makore (Mimusops hecklii,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.41,pp19-22

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1976,Makore/Douka,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.168, pp31-46

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

Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia

Bond, C.W.,1950,Colonial Timbers,Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38

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.,1964,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au CTFT sur Tieghemella,spp.,C.T.F.T. Information Technique, No192

France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12

Franco, E.J. Sampaio,1965,Sur l'Aptitude de quelques Bois Africains a l'Emploi dans les Travaux,Maritimes et la Construction Navale. (The suitability of some African,timbers for use in maritime structures and ship building.,Min. Das Obras Publicas, Lab.Nac. de Engenharia Civil Lisbon,,Memoria.,No.243 pp19

Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board

Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32

Hartwig, G.L.F.,1967,Flooring Timber in South Africa - Mimusops hecklii,South African Builder,45(4, pp33-5

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.

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.

Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Kaiser, J. 1993. Wood of the Month - Makore: valued for Consistency and Beauty. Wood and Wood Products, November 1993. Page 40.

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos

Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast

Kline, M. 1984. Tieghemella heckelii - Makore. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 348-349.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory

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