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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities
| |
Synonyms
Tieghemella heckeliana, Dumoria heckelii
Common Names
Abacu, Abako, Abaku, Abecou, African cherry, Agamokive, Agamokwe, Aganokpe, Aganokwe, Asaka, Babou, Babu, Bagwain, Bako, Baku, Butusu, Cherry mahogany, Dimori, Dimpapi, Diutu, Djuru-tu, Douka, Dumone, Dumori, Edinam, Edumoi, Gofilei, Gwa, Hochioo, Ipaki, Konoo-findo, Makarou, Makore, Makori, Makwe, Mbabou, N'duka, Nduka, Okola, Okolla, Opapea, Opepe, Rubber tree, Ukola, Wosima, Wosime
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure |
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| Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat |
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| Status unknown in some areas due to inadequate information |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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Vulnerable in the Ivory Coast. Status unknown in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone
Distribution Overview
The growth range of this species extends from Sierra Leone to south-western Nigeria.
Heartwood Color
| Yellow |
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| White |
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| Orange |
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| Brown |
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| Red |
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| Green/grey |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Pale red to pink |
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| Brown |
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| Red |
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| Purple |
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| Dark brown |
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| Dark brown |
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| Pale brown |
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The wood is reported to resemble close-grained mahogany or plain-sawn Sapele. The heartwood varies in color from pink to rich red-brown, or pink-red to blood red and red-brown.
Sapwood Color
| White |
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| Yellow |
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| Brown |
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| Red |
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| White to yellow |
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| Pinkish |
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| Paler than heartwood |
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| Well defined |
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| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
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Sapwood is usually 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) wide.
Grain
| Figure |
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| Straight |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Interlocked |
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| Mottled (figure) |
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| Stripe (figure) |
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| Wavy |
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| Closed |
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| Even |
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| Straight |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Interlocked |
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| Mottled figure |
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| Striped figure |
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| Wavy |
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Interlocked grain produces an attractive mottled figure, occasionally with darker streaks. Figured material exhibits a very striking moire or watered-silk pattern.
Texture
| Medium |
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| Coarse |
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| Fine |
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| Even or uniform |
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| Uniform |
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| Fine |
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| Medium |
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| Very fine |
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| Uniform |
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Luster
| Medium |
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| High |
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| Low |
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| Pronounced |
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| Lustrous |
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Natural Durability
| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Non-resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Non-durable |
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| Non-resistant to termites |
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| Perishable |
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| Very durable |
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| Non-resistant to marine borers |
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| Very durable |
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| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Durable |
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| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack |
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| Resistant to attack from marine borers |
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| Heartwood resistant to decay |
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| Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack |
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| Heartwood is resistant to attack by termites and Anobium borers |
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The timber is occasionally attacked by stain, pinhole borers, and longhorn borers.
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
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Silica Content
| Moderate silica contact |
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| Contains high levels of silica (> 0.5% of dry weight) |
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Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
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| Unspecified toxicity |
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| Respiratory effects |
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| Dermatitic effects |
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| Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals |
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| Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals |
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Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
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| Dry at a moderate speed |
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| UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
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| Drying (speed) is fast |
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| UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 |
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| T10 - D4S(4/4); T8 - D3S (8/4) US |
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| Schedule H (4/4) United Kingdom |
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Drying Defects
| Distortion |
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| Splitting |
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| Loose Knots |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| No end splitting |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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| No twisting or warping |
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| Moderate twist/warp |
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| Moderate end spitting |
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| May check slightly and some 1 inch (25 mm) thick boards may twist during drying |
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Minimal splitting around knots may develop.
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
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| Rapidly |
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| Thick Stock Requires Care |
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| Reconditioning Treatement |
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| Easy |
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| Dries slowly with little degrade |
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Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
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| Rapid |
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| Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast |
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| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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| Bole/stem form is straight |
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| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 40-50 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm |
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| Tree height is 50-60 m |
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| Bole length is 20-30 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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| Sapwood width is 10-15 cm |
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| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm |
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| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm |
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| Bole length is 30-40 m |
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Product Sources
Makore trees tend to be very large, with logs that commonly produce from 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of consistent and uniform material. Trees often have a high percentage of figured material per log, which allows big projects to be accomplished in single long runs and in sequence. Although the wood is not light colored, it is very popular because of its distinctive appearance. Seeds produced by the tree are reported to yield an edible oil.
Supplies in the veneer form are rather plentiful, and the material is also available in the lumber form from importers. Prices are in the moderate range.
The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber for export. The timber is a popular architectural wood.
Certified Source
Substitutes
Moabi (Baillonella toxisperma). Nyatoh (Dichopsis elliptica syn. Palaquium and elliptica) is similar in appearance.
Comments
Corrosive Materials - Contact with iron may stain the wood blue, especially under moist conditions.
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Little |
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| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
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| Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate |
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| Severe blunting effect on cutting surfaces |
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| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe |
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Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Boring
| Fair to good results |
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| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
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| Fairly easy to very easy |
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| Tends to char during boring |
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| Difficult |
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Carving
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to carve |
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Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult |
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| High cutting resistance because of high silica content |
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Tungsten carbide tipped cutters are required for material with moisture content below 20 percent.
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to glue |
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| Satisfactory gluing properties |
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| Good gluing properties |
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Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Responds fairly well to mortising operations |
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The timber responds fairly well to mortising operations, but it may have rather severe and rapid blunting effect on cutting edges.
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Material responds well to moulding operations |
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| Cutters tend to dull rapidly |
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Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
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| Small |
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| Stable |
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| Holds shape well after manufacture |
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Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Easy to nail |
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| Tends to split during nailing |
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| Pre-boring required |
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| Possible if prebored |
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| Difficult to nail |
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Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to plane |
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| Planes well, to a good finish |
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