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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Swartzia bannia Trade Name Alianna-be Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Common Names Alianna-be, Bannia, Banya, Boco, Ebony, Ebony bania, Ijzerhart, Savanne ijzerhart, Savanneijzerhart, Shibalidanm Regions of Distribution Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Netherlands, Suriname Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building: framing, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Ladders, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: strings, Piling, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes Environmental Profile Questionable Abundant/Secure Extinct Rare Endangered Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Orange Pink Purple Highly variable Purple Dark brown Black Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Even Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Straight Interlocked Striped figure Straight Rippled figure Texture Fine Medium Coarse Uniform Fine Luster High Lustrous Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Hitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Durable Perishable Moderately durable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Durable Odor Has an odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate surface checking Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow No twisting or warping No cupping, generally Moderate twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Moderate Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 18463 26499 psi Density 63 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2940 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8990 12374 psi Shearing Strength 2960 psi Stiffness 2441 2838 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 62 58 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1298 1863 kg/cm2 Density 1009 kg/m3 Hardness 1333 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 632 869 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 208 kg/cm2 Stiffness 171 199 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 993 929 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1 Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed. Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods - Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.