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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 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 Scientific Name Triplochiton scleroxylon Trade Name Obeche Family Name Sterculiaceae 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 Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center 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 Brown Pink Purple Green/grey Black Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale grey Brown Pale yellow Light deep red brown or yellow-brown to brown or dark reddish-brown Sapwood Color White Brown Green/Grey Pink Yellow Same as heartwood White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Sapwood is often up to 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Straight Even Weak (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Straight Weak figure Interlocked grain produces a faint but characteristic striped figure on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Coarse Medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Medium Fine Coarse Moderately fine to coarse Even textured Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Slightly lustrous The surface of the material exhibits a natural sheen. Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Perishable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is readily attacked by powder-post beetles Heartwood is susceptible to attack by pinhole borers, longhorn beetles and sap stain fungi 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 There is usually an unpleasant odor when freshly cut, but the smell disappears after the wood is seasoned Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Respiratory effects Sawdust can cause respiratory irritation in some individuals Dermatitic effects Sawdust from machining operations is reported to cause asthma in some individuals. Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=L US=T14C6S/T12C5S - Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 T14 - C5S (4/4); T12 - C5S (8/4) US. Schedule L (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting No end splitting Ripped or resawn boards may distort considerably if material contains compression wood No surface checking Low resistance to sawing, but freshly felled logs may split due to internal stresses Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Dries rapidly and well with little degrade under controlled conditions 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) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm 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 Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Some operations require reduced cutting angles for best results Carving Good results Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Saws satisfactorily Low resistance to cutting Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Good gluing properties Gluing is preferable over nailing and screwing for jointed work. Mortising Responds well to machine tools in mortising operations Easy to mortise Moulding Requires very sharp cutting edges Good finishing results Easy to mould 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 Very stable after seasoning Undergoes minimal dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in surrounding atmospheric conditions Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Nails hold poorly Holds satisfactorily Planing Easy to plane Special attention required Planes well, to a good finish Cutters may dull A reduced planing angle and very sharp cutting edges, are recommended for smooth surfaces in planing Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Sharp cutters are required to prevent chipping and crumbling at tool exits in end-grain material Sanding Good sanding properties Screwing Easy to screw Poor results Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to turn Poor results Turns with moderate ease Easy to turn The wood is too soft for hand-turning. Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Easy to cut Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Steam Bending Moderate Good Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results 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 Requires a filler Polishes to a high finish Staining Finish is generally good Satisfactory staining properties For best results use a filler Finish is generally satisfactory 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. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low