Search for

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 Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability 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 Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Tambourissa thouvenotii Trade Name Ambora Family Name Monimiaceae Common Names Ambora Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Carvings, Casks, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture, Hardboards, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Plywood, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sub-flooring, Trimming, Turnery, Veneer, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey Red Purple Yellowish tan Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Interlocked Interlocked grain shows attractive figure Distinct figure Texture Medium Fine Medium Medium coarse and uniform Luster Medium High Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately durable Durable Weathering Poor Odor Pleasant odor that persists after material is converted No distinctive taste Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Case hardening is common Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Variable Fairly Easy Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Drying is fairly difficult ad requires care Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is greater than 70 m Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Very easy to impregnate with preservatives Clean and smooth surfaces Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Material is very soft and saws easily Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good gluing characteristics Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Mortise finishing is very good Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very good moulding properties Easy to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Good nailing properties Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Responds Poorly Excellent response Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy The sanding finish is generally good Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good screw holding properties Easy to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Turning finish is generally very good Fairly good response to preservative treatment Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Unsuitable Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Polishes to a lustrous shine Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8500 13181 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3873 6614 psi Shearing Strength 1666 psi Stiffness 1294 1519 1000 psi Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 597 926 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 272 465 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 117 kg/cm2 Stiffness 90 106 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References 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 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T 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