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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 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 Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Aucoumea klaineana Trade Name Gaboon Family Name Burseraceae Common Names Acoume, Angouma, Bengouma, Cape Lomez mahogany, Combogala, Gaboon, Gaboon mahogany, Gaboon wood, Koumi, M'goumi, Mofoumou, Moukoumi, N'goumi, N'koum, N'koumi, N'kumi, Ojoume, Okoume, Ongoumi, Uume, Zouga Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon Common Uses Artificial limbs, Blockboard, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Cigar boxes, Construction, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable Endangered Abundant/Secure Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Endangered within most of its growth range (and may soon be Extinct if adverse environmental practices persist) Distribution Overview The distribution of Okoumé is limited to the West and the Center of Gabon and some small surfaces in Guinea Equatoriale, in Congo and Cameroun. One finds this species between 0 and 700 meters of altitude in forests of leafy trees of plains. Aucoumea klaineana is one of the most abundant species in the Ombrophilous type of forest, in particular in old secondary forests on well drained sites. Heartwood Color Red Pink Brown Purple Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pale brown Salmon pink to light pinkish brown, or reddish brown Light exposure brings gradual change to color Eventually attains an appearance similar to the mahoganies Brown Sapwood Color White Brown Red Yellow Grey Paler than heartwood White to yellow Different than heartwood White or pale gray when freshly cut Well defined Not always clearly demarcated from heartwood Grain Straight Wavy Interlocked Figure Weak (figure) Closed Even Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Mottled (figure) Straight Wavy Interlocked Weak figure Striped figure Mottled figure May be wavy or curly Interlocked slightly to moderately Distinct figure Distinct and fine figure Striped or mottled figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Medium or moderately fine texture Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced High and satiny luster Natural Growth Defects Large Gaboon logs sometimes have a brashy core Cross-shakes or thunder shakes are rather common Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very little natural resistance to decay in ground contact Susceptible to attack by marine borers Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Logs are susceptible to forest longhorn beetle attack Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content High Siliceous Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains significant silica (up to .25% of dry weight) Toxicity Some toxic effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying (speed) is fast T6-D4(4/4);T3-D1(8/4) US Schedule E; United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Checking Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Slight tendency to distort and check No twisting or warping No surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Medium shrinkage Dries rapidly and well, with little degrade or defect Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Slow Drying rate is slow Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 60-70 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm It usually produces a slightly curved but cylindrical bole that is clear of branches to 70 feet (21 m) and above Product Sources The timber is rather plentiful within its growth range, but supplies, especially in the lumber form, are very limited on the U.S. Market. When available it is priced in the expensive range. 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick boards are reported to cost about US$9.00 per board foot, and veneer for marquetry costs about US$1.25 per square foot (Source - Wood and Wood Magazine, August, 1995). The ITTO reports that a fairly important source of timber. It is exported at a low but regular rate. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Gaboon is similar in strength to Poplar (Populus), though it splits more easily General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally weak and of low density. Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Moderate to severe blunting effect on tools Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Responds satisfactorily to cross-cutting and narrow bandsawing Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Seasoned wood moves moderately after manufacture Medium Fair dimensional stability Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Nailed satisfactorily without pre-boring Good nailing characteristics Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Works fairly easily with both hand and machine tools Worked surfaces tend to be wooly Reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended in planing to prevent tearing