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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cassipourea malosana Trade Name Abang Family Name Rhizophoraceae Synonyms Weiheia elliottii, Cassipourea congoensis, Cassipourea elliottii, Cassipourea gerrardii Common Names Abang, Aetiuget, Aganiya, Andewa, Bangui, Bastard onion wood, Basteruiehout, Chizanzasi, Engai saleki, Funzare, Funzari, Intule, Iroko, Kamba, Kambala, Kangamtibi, Ketiuget, Komoluet, Kusiu, Lesser onion wood, Lomolvet, Lusanga, Maiti, Mandji, Mangweta, Mapakajen, Martit, Mberemembe, Megunda, Mereira, Meyart, Mgiwi, Mpalala, Msadora, Msadoro, Msengera, Muangaita, Muchanja, Mulundu, Musaisi, Muzaisi, Mvula, Ndindi, Ndiri, Ndrie, Nekazito, Nkazito, Odoum, Ol-lorget, Pillarwood, Tendewa, Tule Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Agricultural implements, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Black White to cream Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Purple Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Same as heartwood Grain Straight Spiral Crossed Even Figure Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Spiral Weak figure Striped figure Texture Coarse Medium Resinous and oily Fine Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Perishable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable The sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Durable Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Checking Distortion Splitting Severe twisting/warping Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Severe cupping Moderate spring/bow Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Rapid Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Easy to mortise Finishes satisfactorily Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Large Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Poor results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10334 16099 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Impact Strength 37 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5752 8580 psi Shearing Strength 2269 psi Stiffness 1460 1686 1000 psi Weight 45 36 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 726 1131 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness