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Blunting Effect Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying 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 Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Berlinia bracteosa Trade Name Abem Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Abem, Berlinia, Ebiara, Ekpogi, Ekpogoi, Esabem, Essabem, M'possa, Melegba, Obolo, Pocouli, Red oak, Sarkpei Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color White Brown Red Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pale brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Red White Clearly differentiated from the heartwood White to yellow Pinkish Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Figure Other (figure) Closed Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Wavy Interlocked Other figure Distinct figure Wavy Interlocked Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion No collapse/honeycomb Expect resin/gum exudation Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Blunting Effect Moderate Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding is easy Movement in Service Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a poor finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Screwing Screwing yields good results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer No drying degrade Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetic = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9463 14768 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 991 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6047 8931 psi Shearing Strength 1418 psi Stiffness 1413 1636 1000 psi Weight 42 34 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 665 1038 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 449 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 425 627 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 99 kg/cm2 Stiffness 99 115 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 673 544 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 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 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.,1961,Resultats des Observations et des Essais au CTFT sur Ebiara - Berlinia,Sp.,C.T.F.T Information Tec.,No.122 France - C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC 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