top

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position.

Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data.

Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Steam Bending
Texture
Trade Name
Turning
Varnishing

Scientific Name
Gilbertiodendron mayombense

Trade Name
Kifusa

Family Name
Leguminosae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Kifusa, Mbanda, Mpossa

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Congo

Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Utility furniture

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Reddish brown


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Pale yellow
Grey
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood


Grain
Birds-eye (figure)
Interlocked


Texture
Medium
Resinous and oily


Natural Durability
Moderately resistant to attack by termites
Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers
Interlocked
Straight
Even
Crossed
Spiral
Figure
Rippled (figure)
Has an odor
No specific smell or taste


Silica Content
Siliceous


Drying Defects
Distortion
Warping can be expected
Checking


Ease of Drying
Reconditioning Treatement
Little degrade
Difficult

The material is generally difficult to season. It should be kiln-dried slowly, and air-seasoned under controlled conditions to minimize degrade

Blunting Effect
Cutting edges are dulled slightly


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Satisfactory results


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Responds fairly well to carving


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Easy to saw


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair mortising properties


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Responds fairly well to moulding operations


Nailing
Poor to Very Poor Results


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Yields smooth surfaces
Good planing properties


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Permeable sapwood


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work
Satisfactory response to hand tools


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory routing qualities


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory sanding characteristics


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory


Steam Bending
Moderate


Painting
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Fair results


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish

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