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Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change 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 Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Zanthoxylum gillettii Trade Name African satinwood Family Name Rutaceae Synonyms Zanthoxylum macrophyllum, Fagara macrophylla Common Names African satinwood, Ahenkyen, Ainyan, Ainyere, Ata, Ata igbo, Atagbo, Atta, Bahe, Berebuno, Bo-sue, Bongo, Dedani, Diongo katoke, East African satinwood, Ehengyeny, Ehine die, Ehyerenkyen, Evongo, Eyeyongo, Fuwi, Gbahe, Gmon, Hanwego, Honwogo, Kalomassumu, Kengue, Kimpanga, Kitutube, Lisumba, Longue, Mafu, Mbahe, Menehane, Muchagasa, Muhono, Mulemankobe, Mungutesende, Munyenye, Mutatembwa, Ntalyerungu, Nungo, Nyakabonde, Oberee, Okankan, Okor, Okoro, Okuo, Okuo oberee, Olon, Olon dur, Olondu, Olonvogo, Omushaga, Oyea, Sagawat, Sagawatiet, Sagawoita, Sagli, Sahlu, Shikhuma, Shongamabele, Shukuma, Su-welui, Ughanghan, Ukhankhan, Uko, Vuongo, Wongo, Yea Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Sapwood Color Brown Same as heartwood White to yellow Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Wavy Even Closed Straight Mottled (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Wavy Striped figure Straight Mottled figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Gluing is often difficult Easy to glue Mortising Finishes poorly Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Movement in Service Medium Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to nail Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a poor finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Variable qualities Difficult to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Possible if prebored Turning Good results Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Gluing is often difficult Easy to cut Steam Bending Good Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Good results Varnishing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = hard Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13216 19616 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1647 lbs Impact Strength 54 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6934 9967 psi Shearing Strength 1929 psi Stiffness 1692 1955 1000 psi Weight 49 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 929 1379 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 747 kg Impact Strength 137 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 487 700 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 135 kg/cm2 Stiffness 118 137 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 785 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76 France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Gutierrez Oliva, A., Plaza Pulgar, F.,1967,Caracteristicas fisico-mecanicas de las maderas Espanolas. (Physical and,mechanical properties of Spanish timbers.,Min.Agric./Dir.Gen Montes/Instituto Forestral de Investigaciones,y,Experiencias, Madrid pp102 Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun 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 Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series 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 Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Paris, R., Moyse-Mignon, H.,1951,Recherches sur les Fagara africains 3.Etude du Fagara macrophylla,Ann. Pharm. Francaises Paris,9(7/8, pp479-93 Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1 Uganda Forest Department,1957,African Satinwood (Fagara macrophylla,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet, no.33 Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13