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Blunting Effect Boring Carving 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 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 Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Guibourtia ehie Trade Name Ovangkol Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Amazakoue, Amazoue, Anokye, Bubinga, Ehie, Gabon ovanko, Ghana anokye, Hyedua, Hyedua-nini, Hyeduanini, Ivory Coast amazakoue, Mongoy, Mongoy walnut, Ovangkol, Ovengkol, Pallisandro Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria Common Uses Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Chemical derivatives, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Door, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Joinery, Musical instruments, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Rare Not threatened Globally secure Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Abundant Distribution Overview Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and southern Nigeria. Prefers closed rain forests and transitional forests, often in small groups. In Ghana, it is successful in the dryer areas of moist semi-deciduous forest. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Yellow White Purple Black Orange Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Yellowish brown Pale brown The heartwood is described as yellow brown to dark brown or chocolate brown, with gray to almost black stripes. Ovangkol is similar to Queensland walnut (Endiandra palmerstonii ) in appearance, but is somewhat paler. Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Clearly differentiated from the heartwood It is usually about 4 inches (10 cm) in width. Grain Interlocked Figure Straight Closed Even Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Straight Striped figure Distinct figure The wood exhibits an attractive figure Texture Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fine Luster Medium High Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Moderately durable Durable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately durable Heartwood has moderate resistance to decay Odor Has an odor Unpleasent odor associated with freshly milled wood No distinct taste Freshly-Milled wood has a strong unpleasant odor which disappears after the wood is dried Silica Content Siliceous Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains silica Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Distortion Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderate Easy Dries rapidly with little degrade Thicker stock is reported to kiln-dry with difficulty, and requires care Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m The tree is reported to mature to heights of 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 m), with straight and cylindrical boles that are often clear to about 70 feet (21 m), and trunk diameters of 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm) over buttresses that are occasionally well-developed. Old trees usually have narrow, slightly raised horizontal rings on the stems. Product Sources Apart from timber, many species in the genus Guibourtia are reported to produce the gum known as Copal. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Reaction with Metals - The timber may stain under moist conditions if it is brought into contact with iron and iron containing metals. Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Cuting edges are dulled moderately Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Moderately easy Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Saws slowly but well Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable Medium Dimensional stability is rated as fair, and the timber is reported to show medium movement in use. Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Holds nails well Good nailing qualities Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Planes well, to a good finish Yields clean surfaces Special attention suggested for best results A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees and sharp cutting edges have been recommended for planing quartersawn stock, since Ovangkol often contains interlocked grain Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood absorbs presevatives well Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is fairly difficult to treat Response to Hand Tools Responds Poorly Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Responds fairly well to hand tools The timber works fairly easily with hand tools, and can be worked to a smooth surface Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Screwing yields good results Good screwing properties Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Good results The timber has good turning properties, but cutting edges should be kept thin and sharp. Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Difficult to veneer Steaming required to prepare bolts Suitable for slicing Good gluing qualities Easy to cut Logs require heating before slicing into veneers. Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Good results Excellent results Staining Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Good staining qualities Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to the grain) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high The species has very high bending strength, and is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. The density of the wood is very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13426 18857 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9224 psi Shearing Strength 3015 psi Stiffness 2041 2479 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.62 0.72 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 943 1325 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 601 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 648 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 211 kg/cm2 Stiffness 143 174 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.62 0.72 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Ashiabor, W.K.,1968,The Properties of Afzelia africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Cynometra,anata, Guibourtia ehie, Tectona grandis,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Ghana Tech. Note,No.6 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. 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.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets 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. Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Rio Rivuma. 1995. Guibourtia ehie - Potential Commercial Species from the Zaire Basin System. Rio Rivuma, 229 A Street, Boston, MA. USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.