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Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Rapanea melanophleos Trade Name Cape beech Family Name Myrsinaceae Synonyms Myrsine melanophloeos, Myrsine rhododendroides Common Names Beukenhout, Cape beech, Chikuma, Isiqalaba se hlati, Isiquaqu, Isiqwane se hlati, Isiqwane-wehlati, Kaapse boekenhout, Magona, Massassa, Muforo, Mukwiramakoko, Murgwite, Murwiti, Mutomo, Rapanea, Siqwanesehlat Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Medicinal use, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Sounding boards, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Violin bows, Violin, Xylophones Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Yellow Orange White to cream Pale red to pink Pale brown Brown The heartwood is white when freshly cut, darkening to a pink brown color upon exposure. Rays show up as pink bands or spots, according to cut. Sapwood Color White Yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Even Closed Wavy Straight Rays (figure) Weak (figure) Distinct figure Wavy Weak figure Straight Rays figure Even Rays produce a conspicuous figure on quartersawn surfaces Texture Medium Coarse Fine Medium Luster Low Natural Durability Moderately durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Perishable Moderately durable Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Moderate end spitting Moderate cupping Moderate surface checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Timber is liable to split and cup during drying, particularly backsawn boards Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderate The wood is generally moderately difficult to dry, especially backsawn material Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Boles that are often straight and clear of branches to 20 feet (6 m). T Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saws without difficulty Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Quartersawing is reported to emphasize grain pattern and also facilitates seasoning. Gluing Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Nailing Possible if prebored Moderate nailing properties Planing Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish The timber is generally easy to plane, mould, bore, and mortise, but it requires sanding after most machining operations in order to obtain a smooth surface. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Good Sanding Good characteristics Screwing Moderate screwing characteristics Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turns with moderate ease Finish is generally satisfactory Easy to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small High in density Hardness = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Air-Dried condition about 12% moisture content It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch Much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition Other species high in compression strength include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 15521 psi Density 48 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1591 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5109 8213 psi Shearing Strength 2075 psi Static Bending 9388 psi Stiffness 1916 2270 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.74 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1091 kg/cm2 Density 769 kg/m3 Hardness 721 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 359 577 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 145 kg/cm2 Static Bending 660 kg/cm2 Stiffness 134 159 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.74 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Alan Schwartz. Rio Rivuma, Boston, MA. Personal Communication, 1993. 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 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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.,1935,Fifteen South African High Forest Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire, Imperial Forestry,Institute, Oxford,Part 3 Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Lamb, G.N.,1956,Foreign Woods - Cape beach (Rapanea melanophleos,Wood and Wood Products 61(10) p.54 Pardy, A.A.,1956,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1897 Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Scott, M.H. 1953. Utilization Notes on South African Timbers. Bulletin No. 36. Department of Forestry, Union of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Scott, M.H.,1948,Timber Seasoning in South Africa,South African Forestry Department South Africa Bulletin No.32 Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3 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