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Boring
Carving
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Grain
Heartwood Color
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing

Scientific Name
Pterocarpus antunesii

Trade Name
Chi-viri

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Pterocarpus stevonsonii


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Chi-viri, Chivili, M'wangura, Mukambo, Mwangula, Mwangura, Mzundalima

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Zambia, Zimbabwe

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Mine timbers, Oars, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes

Environmental Profile
Rare


Heartwood Color
White
Grey
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange


Sapwood Color
White
Same as heartwood


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

Straight
Weak figure
Clear growth rings (figure)
Interlocked


Texture
Coarse
Fine
Fine to medium


Luster
High
Dull


Natural Durability
Perishable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable


Toxicity
Unspecified toxicity


Drying Defects
Discoloration


Ease of Drying
Reconditioning Treatement
Fairly Easy
Little degrade
Easy


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is fluted
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 30-40 m


Boring
Poor to very poor results
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw


Mortising
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Nailing
Holds nails well


Planing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work


Routing & Recessing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Screwing yields satisfactory results


Turning
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to turn


Painting
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Satisfactory results


Varnishing
Satisfactory


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Bending strength (MOR) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength931014566psi
Density49lbs/ft3
Hardness2940lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength3185psi
Stiffness135815681000 psi
Weight4838lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength6541024kg/cm2
Density785kg/m3
Hardness1333kg
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength223kg/cm2
Stiffness951101000 kg/cm2
Weight769608kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

References
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

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

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

Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola

Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28

White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London