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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Spirostachys africana Trade Name African sandalo Family Name Euphorbiaceae Synonyms Spirostachys synandra, Excoecaria africana Common Names African sandalo, African sandalwood, Hlengamoaasn, Irongo, Lourenco marques, Msalakanu, Msaraka, Msarakana, Mtomboti, Muconite, Muharaka, Munhiti, Mutivoti, Mutomboti, Mutovoti, Nesipolela, Omupapa, Sandalo, Sandalo Africano, Sandalwood, Shelinga-maasm, Tambootie, Tamboti, Tambotie, Tsomvori, Ubande, Ulu-bande, Umtamboti, Umthombotni Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Plywood, Posts, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes, Wheels Heartwood Color Brown White Red Grey Dark brown Brown Black Reddish brown Pale brown Sapwood Color Red Brown White White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Grain Distinct (figure) Wavy Figure Straight Closed Even Wavy Straight Distinct figure Figure shows rays Texture Coarse Fine Natural Durability Perishable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Poisonous Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=4 Drying Defects Discoloration Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking No surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Kiln drying rate (green to 12% mc) is fairly rapid, typically from 11-17 days for a board under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for a board 63 mm and thicker. Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is variable Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Medium Nailing Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Difficult to sand Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain)=very high Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2940 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6401 9353 psi Shearing Strength 3185 psi Stiffness 1147 1343 1000 psi Weight 56 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 1333 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 450 657 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 223 kg/cm2 Stiffness 80 94 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 897 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Acosta-Solis, M.,1960,Maderas Economicas del Ecuador y sus Usos,Editorial Casa de la Culhra Ecuatoriana Quito 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.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75 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 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Burtt Davy, J.,1929,African Sandaleen Wood,Tropical Woods,No.17,pp15-7 Fouarge, J.,1953,Bois du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Pardy, A.A.,1954,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Spirostachys,africana,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1798 Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 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 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 Department,1966,Flooring Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Spirostachys africana (msaraka,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13