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 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 Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects 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 Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Canarium schweinfurthii Trade Name Africian canarium Family Name Burseraceae Synonyms Canarium velutinum Common Names Abe, Abel, Abeul, African canarium, Africian canarium, Ahie, Aiele, Amonkyi, Bediwenua, Beri, Bidikala, Billi, Bobele, Buhura, Canarium, Elemi, Eyere, Gbebi, Incense tree, Kandangunuu, Kantankrui, Kurutwe, M'bili, Mbele, Mbidikala, Mbidinkala, Mbili, Mubafu, Mubani, Mubili, Mupafu, Mwafu, Omusanki, Omuwafu, Ovili, Owele, Owele ovili, Papo, Safukala Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Structural plywood, Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Endangered Vulnerable Extinct Rare Questionable Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Unknown status is some of its growth areas Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Population is relatively secure in Cameroon, Congo and Sierra Leone. Rare in Benin. Vulnerable in Liberia. Status in wild is listed as unknown due to insufficient information in Angola, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau,Ivory Coast,Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Zaire Distribution Overview Widely distributed in East, Central, and West Africa. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pale brown Pale red to pink Brown White to cream Yellowish tan Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Light brown Darkens upon exposure The wood may contain numerous small knots. Stained Canarium is so similar in appearance to African mahogany (Khaya ) that it usually requires an expert to differentiate between the two. Sapwood Color Brown Red White to yellow Pinkish Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Yellowish-brown Paler than heartwood Pale brown Different than heartwood Darkens upon exposure Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Closed Spiral Wavy Crossed Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Wavy Spiral Distinct and fine figure The grain sometimes produces a very attractive stripe or roey figure on quarter-cut surfaces Texture Medium Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Pronounced Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is frequent to extensive Yellowish deposits in vessels Wind shakes may be present in the wood. Whitish deposits in vessels Brittleheart may be present in the wood. Gum in the canarium may gum-up saws and cutters Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to termite attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Soon after felling, logs should be treated chemically , extracted and converted to prevent insect attack, Odor No characteristic taste Freshly cut wood is aromatic Silica Content Siliceous Contains high levels of silica (> 0.5% of dry weight) Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 Drying (speed) is fast T10 - D4S (4/4) US; T8 - D3S (8/4) US Schedule H; United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Distortion Checking Moderate collapse and honeycombing Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight cupping Shakes may become extended Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Fairly Easy Rapidly Requires special attention Easy Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC (Tangential) = 4.5% Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC (Radial) = 2.5% Dries slowly and well Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced only occasionally and is exported in low but regular volumes. Comments Canarium contains a whitish gum which is reported to solidify to the consistency of wax and burns freely when lit. Uses of African canarium are rather limited because it dulls cutters rapidly and severely General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Interlocked grain and silica content have very high blunting effects on cutting tools. To process the wood, tungsten tipped cutters may be required Boring Fairly easy to very easy Use three winged drills for the best results Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Material with interlocked grain can be difficult. Silica content and interlocked grain can increase cutting resistance. Keep cutting edges sharp Gluing Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Canarium timber that has been seasoned has moderate dimensional stability Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Satisfactory planing properties Materials with interlocked grain may require a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees and very sharp cutting edges Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is treatable Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Silica content and interlocked grain can have severe blunting effect on cutters Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Difficult to sand Good sanding qualities Screwing Screwing yields good results Fair screwing qualities (expect < 70% of screwed pieces to be free from complete splits) Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Special attention required Use sharp, high speed steel cutters to discourage woolly surfaces Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities Easy to cut Various figures can yield decorative veneers There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling Because of its attractive figure and easy response to staining, timber is often sliced into highly decorative veneers Steam Bending Very poor Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Excellent staining characteristics Varnishing Satisfactory Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low