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Blunting Effect
Boring
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Corrosive Properties
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Podocarpus milanjianus

Trade Name
African podocarpus

Family Name
Podocarpaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
African podocarpus, Chemsidu, Duku, Kisalasala, Livuwa, Maisi, Mkute, Mse-namawe, Mseso, Mtokosi, Mtongosos, Mtosi, Mukeke, Munyenza, Musangiria, Musenene, Musengera, Mushijha, Mushunga, Mutarai, Muyunjui, Mvembanyigo, Nkachi, Nyarulasi, Ol-chani-lengai, Podo, Podocarpus, Ruhombge, Saptet, Septa, Serti, Sitatet, Sosaite, Tawaso, Yellowwood

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Beehives, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Concrete formwork, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Musical instruments, Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Veneer

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
White to cream


Sapwood Color
Same as heartwood
Paler than heartwood


Grain
Straight
Figure
Even
Growth rings (figure)
Weak (figure)

Straight
Weak figure
Clear growth rings (figure)


Texture
Medium
Fine


Luster
Medium
Slightly lustrous
Dull


Natural Durability
Non durable
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Perishable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Corrosive Properties
Non-corrosive


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Checking
Slight end splitting
Slight surface checking
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate surface checking
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Moderate
Easy


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is straight


Tree Size
Tree height is 10-20 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 30-40 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Moderately easy


Cutting Resistance
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties


Mortising
Easy to mortise
Finishes well
Interlocked slightly to moderately


Moulding
Good finishing results
Easy to mould
Interlocked slightly to moderately


Movement in Service
Stable
Small
Medium


Nailing
Holds nails well
Easy to nail


Planing
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood is permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Poor
Satisfactory


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure syste
Contains alkaloids giving it good acid resistance
Satisfactory routing results
Moderately easy


Screwing
Screwing yields good results
Easy to screw


Turning
Good results
Easy to turn
Satisfactory


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
Suitable for peeling


Steam Bending
Moderate


Painting
Good results
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Good results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Satisfactory
Finish is generally good
Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract
Non-Staining


Varnishing
Good results
Satisfactory


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Mor/Bending strength = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Toughness (total work) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Work to Maximum Load
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Mor/Bending strength = very low
Max. crushing strength = low
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength58559163psi
Density32lbs/ft3
Hardness657lbs
Impact Strength25inches
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength1310psi
Stiffness101711991000 psi
Toughness95inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load710inch-lbs/in3
Weight3125lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength411644kg/cm2
Density512kg/m3
Hardness298kg
Impact Strength63cm
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength92kg/cm2
Stiffness71841000 kg/cm2
Toughness109cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.490.70cm-kg/cm3
Weight496400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

References
Battiscombe, E., Dale, I.R.,1936,Trees and Shrubs of Kenya Colony,Govt. Printer Nairobi

Bengough, C.C.,1971,Commercial Timbers of Kenya,Ministry of Natural Resources Forest Department, Kenya

Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.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

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Bryce, J.M., Norcross, H.,1961,The Resistance of Tanganyika Timbers to Impregnation,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec .Tech. Note,No.28

Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi

Chalk, L., et al,1932,Some East African Coniferae and Leguminosae,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 1

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London

Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London

Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda

Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola

Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

Kenya Forest Department,1941,Strengths of Kenya timbers,Kenya Forest Department Bulletin No. 36

Lomibao, A., Meniado, A.,1974,The woods of Philippine Anacardiacene (Genera Buchanania, Parishia and,Pistaria,Forpride Digest 3(3/4) pp69-70

Pardy, A.A.,1956,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1891

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43

Saeed Ahmed, S., Mahammad Ayaz, and Taj Mohammad,1977,Properties and Uses of Commercial Timbers in Pakistan,Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Division of Forest Products Bulletin,No.3

Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30

Tack, C.H.,1958,The Strength Properties of some Uganda Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Bulletin No. 5

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 Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi

Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1