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Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Fagara heitzii Trade Name Bongo Family Name Rutaceae Common Names Bongo, Boungou petites feuilles, Kamasumu, Leichtes olon, Lisumba, Lomogo, Lomvoura, M'banza, Mongo, N'dungu, N'goung, Nlo-mvoge, Nongo, Nongo-mpolo, Nungo, Okanham, Olon, Olon tendre, Olong, Soft olong Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Pink Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Texture Coarse Medium Fine to medium Fine Medium Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Moderately durable Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Slight end splitting No end splitting Ease of Drying Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Movement in Service Small Medium Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Screwing Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Turning Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Bolt preparation requires steaming Painting Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9443 14742 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 487 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 663 1036 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 220 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Barreto, L.S.,1967,Madeiras de Mocambique - Estrutura do Lenho,Universitarios de Mocambique Serie, 1 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1949,Olon (Fagara heitzii and Fagara brieyi,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.10,pp175-8 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1980,Olon (Fagara heitzii,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.191,pp47-57 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 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department 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 France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12 France - C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series 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 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 Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13