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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Ricinodendron rautanenii Trade Name Corkwood Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Corkwood, Erimado, Essessang, False balsa, Muganga, Mugongo, Mukusu, Munclalama, Mungoma, Mungongo, Muoma, Ndubalula, Ngoma, Omunquete, Rhodesian balsa, Umganuompobola, Umgoma, Umgongo, Wild almond Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Botswana, Congo, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Canoes, Carvings, Drawing boards, Mathematical instruments, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Toys Heartwood Color Brown White Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Sapwood Color Red White Same as heartwood Grain Straight Wavy Even Closed Figure Weak (figure) Straight Wavy Weak figure Texture Fine Coarse Natural Durability Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S Kiln Drying Rate (in days) rapid Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Easy to nail Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight)=less than 15 lbs/cu.ft. Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 2959 4369 psi Density 9 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 902 1745 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 9 8 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 208 307 kg/cm2 Density 144 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 63 122 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 144 128 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 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 Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Ferreirinha, M.P.,1956,Madeiras do Ultramar Portugues,Garcia de Orta Revista da Junta Missoes Geog...,4(1,pp95-6 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Jane, F.W.,1954,The Structure of World Timbers - 21 Muganga Musine Pilon and Hura,Timber Technology,62(2175, pp15-17 Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Pardy, A.A.,1952,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia (Ricinodendron,rautanenii,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1686 Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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 Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 Zambia Forestry Department,1979,Timbers of Zambia Ricinodendron rautanenii and Trichilia emetica,Zambia Forestry Department, Division of Forest Products Research, Timbers,of Zambia - Technical note