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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Daniella thurifera Trade Name Abwe Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Daniellia caillei, Daniellia oblonga, Paradaniellia oliveri, Daniellia thurifera Common Names Abwe, African balsam, African copaiba, Agba, Ahgara, Auwolo, Balsam tree, Bito, Bitoke, Bobe, Bolengu, Bu, Bumbo, Bungbo, Bungo, Chahar, Chihar, Copaivi balsam, Copal tree, Danchi, Daniellia, Dnahi, Dsati, Dunchi, Ehyedua, Engya, Eyele, Fara, Faro, Frakuan, Frankincense tree, Gbese, Gbessi, Igi-iya, Ila evin, Ilorin, Ilorin balsam, Incenso, Iya, Kadaura, Kaharlahi, Karallahi, Kinya, Kpeje, Kuan'ga, Kunyan, Kunyang, Kwanga, Linge, Lipiti, Lonlaviol, Maje, Masa, N'dola, N'su, Nenyao, Niger copal tree, Nsou, Nyuo, Ogea, Ojia, Osanya, Osanyan, Osia, Oulenyi, Owagie, Ozaba, Ozabwa, Ozia, Oziya, Oziya ato, Pau incense, Pau incenso, Pau-insenso, Rungulo, Sa, Sambam, Sameim, Sandan, Santang, Sanya, Senya, Sepi, Shedua, Singa, Sru-ah, Su, Tachale, Tchebe, Thievi, Tiene, Tieve, Tschalo, Yono, Zoue Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Musical instruments: percussion, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Tables, Turnery, Vats, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Black Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Pale brown Brown Red Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Green/Grey Brown White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Even Closed Wavy Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Rippled (figure) Interlocked Straight Wavy Rippled figure Other figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Fine Luster Medium Pronounced Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Perishable Non-durable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Light-Induced Color Change None Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Drying Defects Splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb Moderate twist/warp Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Easy Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is variable Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Difficult to mortise Moulding Difficult to mould Movement in Service Medium Nailing Easy to nail Difficult to nail Planing Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Easy to screw Turning Difficult to turn Steam Bending Very poor Polishing Good results Staining Finish is generally good Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Toughness (total work) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Max. crushing strength = high Toughness (total work) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7862 12298 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Hardness 798 lbs Impact Strength 25 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3634 5965 psi Shearing Strength 1474 psi Stiffness 1067 1254 1000 psi Weight 33 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 552 864 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Hardness 361 kg Impact Strength 63 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 255 419 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 103 kg/cm2 Stiffness 75 88 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 528 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Babajide, Lucas E., Shegun, Ajayi D.,1966,Stiffness and specific gravity related to other mechanical properties for,seven tropical timbers.,Nigeria Federal Department Forest Research, Ibadan, Report No.10 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1955,Faro (Daniellia Spp,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,44, pp17-20 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1951,Ogea - Daniellia ogea and Daniellia thurifera,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research Timber Leaflet France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods Laboratory Nigeria Department of Forest Research,1967,The Properties of Some Savanna Timber Trees,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Report, No.11 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of Africa Woods 2,Tropical Woods 16(106) pp65-97 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London