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 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 Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Millettia stuhlmannii Trade Name Panga panga Family Name Papilionaceae Common Names Avong, Jambire, Mongoy, Mpande, Mpanga-mpanga, Panga panga, Partridge wood, Partridgewood, Umkuye, Wenge Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Toys, Vats, Veneer Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The geographical range of Panga-panga covers the East Coast of Africa, from Kenya and Mozambique, south to the lakes of Tanzania. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Pink Orange White Green/grey Purple Grey Dark brown Black Brown Pale brown Brown - chocolate Alternating bands of light and dark tissue Panga-Panga is similar to Wenge (M. laurentii ) which is from Zaire, Gabon, and the Cameroon Republic Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Pink White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Even Straight Distinct figure Generally straight, but not always Figure shows feathering The wood has a characteristic partridge feathered figure. Texture Fine Medium Coarse Even or uniform Uniform Medium Medium coarse to coarse Uniform Fine Fine to medium Coarse Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Heart rot, shakes, and pockets of ingrown bark may be present Abundant dark gum deposits are present Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood resistant to decay Durable Odor No odor, generally. Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Moderate surface checking Casehardening usually develops Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Dries rapidly with little degrade Air-dries rather well Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced regularly but it is exported only in low volumes. Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is severe Severe and rapid effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Difficult Clean holes can be obtained with difficulty Carving Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly difficult to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results May require surface treatment for best results Difficult to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good mortising properties Finishes well Difficult to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good finishing results Reduction in cutting angle is recommended Difficult moulding qualities Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Stable Retains shape well after manufacture Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish 15 degree cutting angle is recommended for best planing results. Resistance to Abrasion Highly resistant to wear Good for flooring Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Cutting edges become dull very quickly Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Routing is difficult Rapid and severe dulling may occure Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to sand Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Good results Cutters may dull rapidly Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Good results Poor results Excellent results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = low Weight = very high Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Density = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9561 14697 psi Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5262 8345 psi Shearing Strength 2074 psi Stiffness 1624 1881 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.83 Weight 54 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 672 1033 kg/cm2 Density 881 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 369 586 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 145 kg/cm2 Stiffness 114 132 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.83 Weight 865 673 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Alan Schwartz. Rio Rivuma, Boston, MA. Personal Communication, 1993. 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. HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. 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. Kaiser, J. 1990. Wenge - The Dark Exotic Wood from Africa. Wood of the Month Annual, Supplement to Wood and Wood Products September, 1990, Page 24A. McCoy-Hill, M.,1957,Timbers of Tanganyika - Ngambo, Mpande, East African Walnut and Candelabra,Tree,Timber Technology,65(2219,pp467 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa South African Lumber Millers Assoc.,1969,Notes on some Commercially Available Hardwoods,S.A.L.M.A. Timber Info. Centre Timber Technical Guide,No.1 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 Tanzania - Timber Marketing Co. Ltd.,1978,Timber from Tanzania Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forestry Department,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika - Millettia stuhlmannii,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika