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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Oxystigma oxyphyllum Trade Name Tchitola Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Pterygopodium oxyphyllum Common Names Akwakwa, Copal, Emola, Emoli, Emolo, Kitola, Lolagbola, M'babou, Maranda, Mbabou, Mushili mukunze, Mushilu mukunze, Red tola, Rotes tola, Tchibudimbu, Tchitola, Tntie budimbu, Tntubudimbu, Tola chimfuta, Tola mafula, Tola mafuta, Tola noir, Tola walnut, Tshibudimbu tshikunze, Tuba Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Baskets, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Paneling, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is relatively secure within its natural habitat in most areas in its range, including Congo, but it is officially classified as Rare in Cameroon. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Angola, Gabon, Nigeria, and Zaire Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Red Yellow Orange Black Reddish brown Brown Pale red to pink The heartwood is brownish-pink when freshly cut but matures to a reddish-brown color upon exposure. An intermediate zone is often present between sapwood and heartwood. Dark gum rings give the wood a very attractive appearance. Well-marked and striking black and pale yellow stripes are also present Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Well defined Pinkish White to yellow Paler than heartwood Light yellow-pink Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Width is 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12.5 cm) Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Even Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Distinct and very fine figure Grain is straight to slightly interlocked. Texture Medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Medium Coarse Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium Low Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum content is very high, and the wood occasionally requires steam and hot water treatments to reduce amounts to manageable levels Natural Durability Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Heartwood resistance to decay is variable The wood is rated as moderately resistant in general, and not very susceptible to attack by termites. Logs should be extracted rapidly from the forest to avoid degrade from attack by insects and fungi. The timber performs poorly when exposed to atmospheric conditions Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast US=T5D2 Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Slight end splitting Some splitting and distortion may also develop during drying Slight twist/warp Severe collapse and honeycomb Expect resin/gum exudation The timber is reported to air-dry with few complications, but high resin content may cause surface spotting if seasoned too rapidly Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Reconditioning Treatement Easy Mild kiln schedules recommended to minimize drying defects Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m The timber is reported to grow to a height of up to 150 feet (45 m), with a trunk diameter that is commonly 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm), sometimes up to 72 inches (180 cm). It develops a bole that is often straight and well-formed, with a merchantable length of about 70 feet (21 m). Substitutes Courbaril (Hymanaea courbaril) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect High to severe Slight blunting effect on cutters Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Very good to excellent results Fair to good results Easy Difficult Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saws rapidly and easily to yield smooth surfaces Gum-Resin buildup on saws may cause overheating Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Small Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning Medium movement in use. Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing characteristics Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Tools may be choked by gum. Rather soft The timber works well in planing, turning, boring, moulding, mortising, routing, and other machining operations. Straight grained wood responds readily to ordinary tools to produce smooth, clean surface but material containing interlocked grain may pick up Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Picking up may occur in interlocked material Gum may choke up tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Yields a smooth surface Screwing Screwing yields good results Good screwing properties Good screw holding properties Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing No steaming needed during bolt preparation. No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Fairly good polishing characteristics Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = heavy Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11264 16177 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1224 lbs Impact Strength 34 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5602 8233 psi Shearing Strength 1486 psi Stiffness 1389 1571 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.49 0.53 Weight 42 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 791 1137 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Hardness 555 kg Impact Strength 86 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 393 578 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 104 kg/cm2 Stiffness 97 110 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.49 0.53 Weight 673 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % 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 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1952,Tchitola (Oxystigma oxyphyllum,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No23,p175 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 Brow