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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 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 Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Baillonella toxisperma Trade Name Moabi Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Baillonella djave, Baillonella obovata Common Names Adjap Adza African pearwood Ayap Cungulo Dimpampi Djava Djave Kungulu Moabi Muabi Mudia Muyabi Mwabi Nduku wa dijondo Ngulube Njabi Njari Nyabi Orere Ulumba Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Construction, Decorative veneer, Figured veneer, Fixtures, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Railroad ties, Skis, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Woodwork Environmental Profile Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Status unknown in many of its growth areas Generally secure within its natural habitat Distribution Overview Moabi occurs mainly in Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria, and is also found in Angola, Congo and Equatorial Guinea. The monotypic genus Baillonella is endemic to the Guineo-Congolian region. B. toxisperma is limited to dense primary evergreen rain forests. It requires shade for regeneration to occur. Heartwood Color White Yellow Red Green/grey Brown Orange Reddish brown Pale red to pink Pale brown Reddish-Brown to rich red, sometimes with a grayish tinge Brown, red, dark reddish brown with nearly black stripes after prolonged exposure Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Pinkish White to yellow Well defined Pinkish white, gray brown, or dark gray to pinkish gray Different than heartwood Clearly delineated from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Wavy Even Closed Mottled (figure) Interlocked Wavy Straight Distinct figure Straight to interlocked Mottled figure Interlocked slightly to moderately Texture Fine Medium Fine Even textured Luster Low Pronounced Lustrous Highly lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Moderately durable Perishable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack by fungi and wood boring insects In marine applications this species is slightly resistant to marine borers, i.e. shipworms and gribble Exceptional resistance to harmful effects of weather Well suited for exterior applications such as sidings and shingles Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Highly siliceous Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals Sawdust can cause eye irritation Residue remaining after extraction is toxic to animals Seeds produced by the tree are reported to yield an edible oil similar to shea butter, but the residue remaining after extraction is toxic to animals. Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying Defects Checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking May twist and distort Low drying stresses Distortion is seldom a problem Areas around knots may be subject to slight splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Dries at a moderate to slow rate, but without too much difficulty Its volumetric shrinkage is in the same range as Black walnut Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is unknown Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameters are 72 to 120 inches (1.8 to 3 m) and old trees may be swollen at the base Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe High dulling effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Good boring qualitites Easy Dulls cutters rapidly due to silica content Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Tool edges dull rapidly Saws well Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Easy to mortise Finishes well Moulding Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Retains shape very well after manufacture Medium Dimensionally stable after proper seasoning Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Satisfactory nail-holding properties Possible if prebored Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Works easily in most machining opeations but silica tends to quickly dull cutting edges Planes well, to a good finish A cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Extremely resistant to preservative treatment Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Responds rather poorly to hand tools Peel and slice easily because they are typically well-formed and not very hard For large projects requiring hand shaping, a similar and closely related African species, Makore (Tieghemella ), is suggested. Sanding Easy to sand Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Turning Easy to turn Responds very well in turning due to its fine texture and low tendency to distort Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Good gluing qualities Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Good Good steam bending properties Painting Good results Good painting characteristics Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Good finishing characteristics Fairly good polishing characteristics Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Varnishes well Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = large Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large