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 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 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 Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Guibourtia tessmannii Trade Name Bubinga Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Akume, Binbinga, Bubinga, Buvenga, Essingang, Kevazingo, Lianu, Moubaka, Mouega, Mutenye, Ovang, Oveng, Waka, Waku Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Cameroon, Gabon, Zaire and the Ivory Coast. Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Reddish brown Yellow upon exposure Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Pale brown Light red/purple veins Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color Pink White Brown Yellow White to yellow Well defined Whitish Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Interlocked Even Wavy Closed Other (figure) Straight Distinct figure Interlocked Wavy Straight to interlocked Other figure Distinct and very fine figure Logs with very irregular grain are rotary cut into veneers called Kevasingo . Texture Medium Even or uniform Uniform Fine Medium to coarse Medium Fine to medium Even textured Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Gum/resin exudation Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to termite and xylophagous beetle attack Resistant to decay Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Logs are reported to require prompt removal from the forest and some form of protection against attack by insects. Odor Unpleasant odor when first cut Silica Content Siliceous Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed T2 - C2 (4/4) US T2 - C1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse No end splitting Slow seasoning prevents degrade Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Easy Gum exudation may present difficulties Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber for export. Bubinga is available in lumber form on the US market. Imported logs are massive, and may weigh as much as 10 tons. Substitutes Muiracataria (Astronium leicointei) and Pao rosa (Swartzia fistuloides) Comments Four fairly well known species, all native to Africa, are represented by the genus Guibourtia. The species are botanically similar but are very different in color. The most plentiful is Bubinga, produced by G. tessmannii , and G. pellegriniana . The rest are Benge or Mutenye which is produced by G. arnoldiana , Ovangkol or Ehie from G. ehie , and Rhodesian copalwood from G. coleosperma , which is less plentiful in international trade General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Moderate to severe blunting effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Good results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Generally good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Glues poorly due to gum pockets Difficult to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to mould Reduction in cutting angle avoids tearing from irregular grain Good finishing results Movement in Service Stable Small Holds shape well after manufacture Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Difficult to nail Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Reduction of cutting angle prevents tearing in areas of irregular grain Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing yields good results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding qualities Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Possible if prebored Screwing yields good results Turning Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Turns well despite hardness Veneering Qualities Various figures can yield decorative veneers Bolt preparation requires steaming Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Excellent results Staining Staining is easy Finish is generally good Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14616 22360 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2619 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 10079 psi Shearing Strength 1721 psi Stiffness 1866 2242 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.8 Weight 53 53 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1027 1572 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 1187 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 708 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 121 kg/cm2 Stiffness 131 157 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.8 Weight 849 849 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1949,Bubinga (Guiboutia spp,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.12,pp429-432 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1977,Bubinga (Guibourtia spp,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.173, pp23-35 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 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 France - C.T.F.T.,1959,Bois a Parquets,C.T.F.T.,Information Tec.,No.6 France - C.T.F.T.,1961,Resultats des Observations et des Essais effectues au C.T.F.T. sur Bubinga,(Guibourtia spp.,C.T.F.T.,Information Tec.,No.118 France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12 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. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data 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 Kline, M. 1978. Guibourtia tessmanii - Bubinga. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. Page 182. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1969. World Timbers, Volume One - Europe & Africa. Published by Ernest Benn Limited, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London. Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21 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 Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7