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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
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
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
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities
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Common Names
Abachi, African bush maple, African maple, African whitewood, Ajuss, Arare, Arere, Ayos, Ayous, Ayus, Bado, Bamba, Batobus, Bush maple, Cofa, Egin-fifen, Ejoung, Ejuong, Ewowo, Gha, Ghana obeche, Hafa, Hofa, Kofa, Kpa, Larana whitewood, Lomangene, M'bado, Nkom, Obeche, Obechi, Obeke, Ofa, Okpa, Okpo, Otrotso, Oua-oua, Ouesse, Owawa, Owowa, Pataboa, Sam, Sama, Samba, Samba gris, Samba ou ayous, Samba-ayous, Sankamba, Satinwood, Serama, Soft satinwood, Wana, Wawa, Wawa arera
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zaire
Common Uses
Artificial limbs, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Blockboard, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concrete formwork, Cutting surfaces, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fiberboard, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marquetry, Millwork, Model airplanes, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Stools, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer
Environmental Profile
| Generally secure within its natural habitat |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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Distribution Overview
Widely distributed in tropical West Africa, from Guinea to Zaire. It is found mainly along waterways, on abandoned farmlands, and in transition zones between humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. especially common in the drier and more disturbed types of forests within its range.
Heartwood Color
| Red |
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| Brown |
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| Pink |
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| Purple |
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| Green/grey |
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| Black |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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| White to cream |
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| Pale grey |
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| Brown |
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| Pale yellow |
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| Light deep red brown or yellow-brown to brown or dark reddish-brown |
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Sapwood Color
| White |
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| Brown |
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| Green/Grey |
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| Pink |
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| Yellow |
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| Same as heartwood |
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| White to yellow |
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| Color not distinct from heartwood |
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Sapwood is often up to 6 inches (15 cm) wide.
Grain
| Interlocked |
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| Figure |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Stripe (figure) |
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| Straight |
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| Even |
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| Weak (figure) |
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| Interlocked |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Striped figure |
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| Straight |
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| Weak figure |
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Interlocked grain produces a faint but characteristic striped figure on quartersawn surfaces.
Texture
| Coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Fine |
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| Medium coarse to coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Fine |
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| Coarse |
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| Moderately fine to coarse |
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| Even textured |
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Luster
| Medium |
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| Lustrous |
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| Pronounced |
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| Slightly lustrous |
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The surface of the material exhibits a natural sheen.
Natural Growth Defects
| Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive |
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Natural Durability
| Durable |
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| Very durable |
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| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Resistant to termites |
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| Moderately durable |
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| Non-resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Non-resistant to termites |
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| Non-resistant to marine borers |
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| Resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Non durable |
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| Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack |
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| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree |
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| Perishable |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Very durable |
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| Susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Sapwood is readily attacked by powder-post beetles |
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| Heartwood is susceptible to attack by pinhole borers, longhorn beetles and sap stain fungi |
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The heartwood is not resistant to attack by termites and other insects. A die-back fungus, Botryodiplodia theobromae, which reduces most mechanical properties, is sometimes present in this species. Prompt removal of logs from the forest, as well as conversion is essential since the species is susceptible to insect and fungi attack.
Odor
| Unpleasent odor when freshly milled |
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There is usually an unpleasant odor when freshly cut, but the smell disappears after the wood is seasoned
Light-Induced Color Change
Toxicity
| Respiratory effects |
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| Sawdust can cause respiratory irritation in some individuals |
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| Dermatitic effects |
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Sawdust from machining operations is reported to cause asthma in some individuals.
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast |
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| UK=L US=T14C6S/T12C5S - |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid |
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| UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 |
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| T14 - C5S (4/4); T12 - C5S (8/4) US. |
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| Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom |
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Drying Defects
| Slight twist/warp |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| No end splitting |
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| Ripped or resawn boards may distort considerably if material contains compression wood |
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| No surface checking |
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| Low resistance to sawing, but freshly felled logs may split due to internal stresses |
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Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
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| Easy |
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| Dries rapidly and well with little degrade under controlled conditions |
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The lumber must be stacked carefully to permit good air circulation.
Kiln Drying Rate
| Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is straight |
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| Bole/stem form is misshapen |
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| Bole/stem form is fluted |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Bole length is 10-20 m |
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| Tree height is 10-20 m |
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| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
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| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm |
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The trees are very tall and slim. Boles are cylindrical, and the palmate leaves and winged fruits are said to resemble those of the North American maples and European sycamores
Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is recognized as a very important source of timber for export.
The timber is considered too soft for general joinery use, but it is highly suitable for small accurate mouldings.
Obeche is readily available in both veneer and lumber forms. The timber is usually available in large sizes which allows it to be used for the mass production of cabinets and kitchen furniture. Prices are in the inexpensive range.
Substitutes
Obeche is a good and potential substitute for American basswood (Tilia americana ), Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera ), and White pine (Pinus alba). These species are substitutes for Obeche: Morototo (Didymonopanax morototoni) and Brown terminalia (Terminalia brassii)
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| High to severe |
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| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
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| Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild |
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| Slight dulling effect on cutting tools |
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| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild |
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Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
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| Easy |
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Some operations require reduced cutting angles for best results
Carving
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy |
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| Saws satisfactorily |
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| Low resistance to cutting |
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Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to glue |
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| Good gluing properties |
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Gluing is preferable over nailing and screwing for jointed work.
Mortising
| Responds well to machine tools in mortising operations |
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| Easy to mortise |
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Moulding
| Requires very sharp cutting edges |
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| Good finishing results |
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| Easy to mould |
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The material has a slight abrasive effect. Cutting edges should be kept very sharp when working end-grain material since it has a tendency to crumble and chip at tool exits.
Movement in Service
| Small |
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| Very stable after seasoning |
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Undergoes minimal dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in surrounding atmospheric conditions
Nailing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to nail |
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| Nails hold poorly |
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| Holds satisfactorily |
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Planing
| Easy to plane |
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| Special attention required |
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| Planes well, to a good finish |
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| Cutters may dull |
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A reduced planing angle and very sharp cutting edges, are recommended for smooth surfaces in planing
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood |
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| Resistant heartwood |
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| Resistant sapwood |
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| Heartwood is resistant |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Easy to machine |
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| Responds well to hand tools |
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Routing & Recessing
Sharp cutters are required to prevent chipping and crumbling at tool exits in end-grain material
Sanding
Screwing
| Easy to screw |
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| Poor results |
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Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Difficult to turn |
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| Poor results |
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| Turns with moderate ease |
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| Easy to turn |
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The wood is too soft for hand-turning.
Veneering Qualities
| Difficult to veneer |
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| Easy to cut |
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| Suitable for peeling |
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| No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting |
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Steam Bending
Painting
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Satisfactory results |
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Steam Bending
The wood has moderate steam bending properties. There may be slight wrinkling at the edges of bends.
The wood should be primed if painting is required.
Polishing
| Good results |
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| Requires a filler |
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| Polishes to a high finish |
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Staining
| Finish is generally good |
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| Satisfactory staining properties |
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| For best results use a filler |
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| Finish is generally satisfactory |
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The wood is described as non-descript, and acts as a very good medium for staining and dyeing.
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
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| Max. crushing strength = low |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = very small |
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| Hardness (side grain) = very soft |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
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| Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low |
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