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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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting 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 Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Beilschmiedia letouzeyi Trade Name Kanda Family Name Lauraceae Common Names Akok, Bisslongo, Biteki, Bonzale, Kanda, Mfimbo, Nkonengu, Pogo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zaire Common Uses Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Utility furniture, Veneer, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Very little threat to its natural environment. Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview West and Central Africa. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Black From pink brown to greenish brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink Green/Grey Brown Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Coarse Medium Fine to medium Luster Low Natural Durability Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to marine borers Resistant to lyctus attack Resistant to decay Odor No odor, generally. Silica Content Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains silica Drying Defects Resin Exudation Splitting Distortion Discoloration Slight tendency to check High tendency to distort Ease of Drying Slowly Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Dries slowly Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is greater than 25 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 20-25 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources The tree is seldom harvested for timber because it is highly valued for its flowers and fruits. Comments Represented under a general description Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Tungsten tipped cutters may be needed to process wood Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Boring Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Dulling effect tends to be moderate Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Good properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Requires specially tipped cutters Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood reponds well to preservation treatment Heartwood responds poorly to preservation treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires specially tipped cutters Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Wood is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 18522 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 7272 psi Stiffness 1509 1000 psi Weight 59 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1302 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 511 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 945 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References 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 ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.