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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Sterculia rhinopetala Trade Name Brown sterculia Family Name Sterculiaceae Common Names Abang abuga, Awabima, Awasea, Awraw, Aye, Brown sterculia, Ekko okpon, Enwiwan, False chestnut, Kitiboa ufue, Lotofa, M'kanang, Mfotomfro, N'cannang, N'kanang, Nkanna, Nkannang, Ogiokoko, Oro, Orodo, Otutu, Pokodom, Potorodom, Wawabima, Wawbina Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo Common Uses Agricultural implements, Blockboard, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture components, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Paneling, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Very little or no threat to its survival in the near future Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview The species occurs in West Africa, and is found in the drier areas of lowland rain forests from the Ivory Coast to Cameroon. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Grey Reddish brown Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Reddish deep brown Pale red to pink Light red Dark brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White to yellow Well defined Straw colored Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood It is usually 1.5 to 2.5 inches (3.8 to 6.3 cm) wide. Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Stripe (figure) Growth rings (figure) Even Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Striped figure Clear growth rings (figure) Quartersawn surfaces produce an attractive figure Plain sawn surfaces tend to be figureless May be straight Interlocked Distinct and very fine figure Texture Coarse Coarse Medium Medium to very coarse Fibrous Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Durable Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Sapwood is prone blue stain Non durable Heartwood is moderately resistant to decay Odor Slight bitter taste No distinct odor or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow T2-C1 (8/4) US T2 - C2 (4/4) US Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Checking Moderate end spitting Slight collapse and honeycomb Severe cupping Moderate surface checking Severe end splitting Moderate cupping Shakes may become extended Severe surface checking Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate twist/warp Moderate collapse and honeycombing Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Difficult Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Dries rather slowly Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Substitutes Substitute for Ash (Fraxinus) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Interlocked slightly to moderately Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Surfaces tend to be woolly Sharp cutting edges is required Boring, mortising, and other machining properties are generally satisfactory Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Tends to saw woolly with a tendency to spring May overheat saws rapidly Hook angle of 15 degrees is recommended Bandsawing is satisfactory Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing characteristics Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mould Requires very sharp cutting edges Areas of interlocked grain may cause fuzzy worked surfaces Movement in Service Large Ratio of tangential to radial shrinkage is about 2 Not stable/prone to move Nailing Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Sharp cutting edges recommended Reduction of cutting angle recommended Reducing cutting angle prevents tearing in interlocked areas Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Responds poorly to preservation treatment Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits It is sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling and interior decoration Easy to cut Diifficult to veneer The timber is peeled for plywood manufacture, corestock and facings for blockboards. Steam Bending Moderate Polishing Good results Satisfactory results Requires a filler Staining Finish is generally good Finish is generally satisfactory Stains well Requires filler Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12780 20178 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1895 lbs Impact Strength 35 46 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6025 9379 psi Shearing Strength 2160 psi Stiffness 1625 2004 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 15 22 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.63 Weight 48 48 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 898 1418 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Hardness 859 kg Impact Strength 88 116 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 423 659 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 151 kg/cm2 Stiffness 114 140 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 1.05 1.54 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.63 Weight 769 769 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 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 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Cox, H.A.,1940,Notes on Empire Timbers,Empire Forestry Journal,19(2, pp242-4 Cudjoe, F.S.,1969,A Key to the Family Sterculiaceae in Ghana,Forest Prod. Res. Inst. Ghana Tech. Note, No.7 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1952,Trials of Timber for Plywood Manuf. - Prelim. Report on 6 African Species,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research Progress Report,No.17 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1955,Kiln-Drying Schedules,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Leaflet,No.42 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment France - C.T.F.T.,1960,Lotofa (Sterculia rhinopetala,C.T.F.T. Information Technique,No. 31 France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data I.U.F.R.O.,1973,V