Search for

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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Tieghemella africana Trade Name Abacu Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Mimusops africana, Dumoria africana Common Names Abacu, Aganokwe, Baku, Boku, Douka, Duka, Dumori, M'douka nougou, Makarou, Makore, N'douka, Ndouka, Nondouka, Okola, Onougou, Oukola, Ukola, Wosima Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Flooring, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Moldings, Paneling, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Railroad ties, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Purple Red Brown Reddish brown Pale red to pink Brown Red Sapwood Color Pinkish White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Wavy Even Closed Stripe (figure) Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Wavy Striped figure Distinct and very fine figure Texture Medium Fine Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Resistant to termites Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Toxicity Dermatitic effects Unspecified toxicity Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects No end splitting Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Small Stable Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Moderate Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12918 19603 psi Density 42 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1279 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5981 8853 psi Shearing Strength 3072 psi Stiffness 1230 1429 1000 psi Weight 41 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 908 1378 kg/cm2 Density 673 kg/m3 Hardness 580 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 420 622 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 215 kg/cm2 Stiffness 86 100 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 657 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References 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 Bertin, A., Meniaud, J.,1949,Timbers of the Cameroons,Compagnie Francais du Cameroon,(Transl. by F.Jane) Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1955,Douka,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.42, pp37-40 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1976,Makore/Douka,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.168, pp31-46 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. 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.,1964,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au CTFT sur Tieghemella,spp.,C.T.F.T. Information Technique, No192 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 France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Gutierrez Oliva, A., Plaza Pulgar, F.,1967,Caracteristicas fisico-mecanicas de las maderas Espanolas. (Physical and,mechanical properties of Spanish timbers.,Min.Agric./Dir.Gen Montes/Instituto Forestral de Investigaciones,y,Experiencias, Madrid pp102 Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data 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 Revue des Bois et de ses Applications,1956,La page des bois Tropicaux-Douka,Revue des Bois et de ses Applications,11(6, p26 Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1968,Reflexions sur quelques essences tropicales utilisables en menuiserie de,batiment,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.121,pp55-66 Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Scott, M.H.,1948,Timber Seasoning in South Africa,South African Forestry Department South Africa Bulletin No.32 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