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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 Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Carapa procera Trade Name African crabwood Family Name Meliaceae Common Names African crabwood, Agogo, Alla, Andiroba, Asorowa, Bete, Borowa, Bukulo, Carapa, Cedro macho, Chu-nay-dor-kohn, Crabwood, Ditondondo, Dona, Engang, Engany, Gobi, Guiana crabwood, Ibbegogo, Kowi, Kraa-bise, Krapa, Krupi, Krupia, Kundu, Kwaku-bise, Mbukuli, Mbula-ndobi, Mebukulo, Molonkoto, Monkey cola, Mujogo, Mukasa-kumbi, Munangu, Mutongana, Okoto, Sua-bise, Toon-kor-dah, Toon-kor-doh, Uganda crabwood Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Fine furniture, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Widely distributed in western sections of tropical Africa and extending eastward to Uganda, overlapping in Angola and Zaire with C. grandiflora. Heartwood Color Brown Red Reddish brown Pale red to pink Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Darkens upon exposure Sapwood Color White Brown Red Pinkish Different than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Paler than heartwood White to yellow Pale brown Greyish Grain Straight Interlocked Wavy Closed Even Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Interlocked Wavy Distinct figure Texture Coarse Fine Medium Fine to medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Luster Pronounced Lustrous High Dull Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to decay Moderately resistant to attack by termites Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change None Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Ring Shakes Splitting Internal Honeycombing Possible Checking Distortion Slight spring/bow Severe surface checking No twisting or warping Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Rapidly Medium to High Shrinkage Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Variable results. Air-dries easily with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Carefully Controlled Conditions Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Fair to good dimensional stability after seasoning Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Nails hold poorly Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Special attention required Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a satisfactory finish Interlocked grain may may tear while planing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Polishing characteristics are good to very good Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low The wood has high density Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14333 21246 psi Density 48 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1182 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6526 9501 psi Shearing Strength 1947 psi Stiffness 1748 2018 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.55 Weight 49 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1007 1493 kg/cm2 Density