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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 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor 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 Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Celtis mildbraedii Trade Name African celtis Family Name Ulmaceae Synonyms Celtis usambarensis Common Names African celtis, Akpula, Asan, Atako, Ba, Bolunde, Bolwe, Busoga, Celtis, Esa, Esa-fufu, Esa-kokoo, Esa-pa, Gombe, Gombi, Isa, Isa fufuo, Ita, Ita gidi, Ita-gangan, Ita-ita, Itako, Kabaranga, Kalulu, Kayombo, Kiambo, Killiakamba, Lufugo, Luniumbo, Luniumbu, Mengo, Mgua, Mudengwa, Mukokukoma, Mukomakoma, Namanuka, Odu, Odu elias, Ohia, Ohia noleghe, Ohianameme, Omoin, Shiunza, Tongo, Uta, Yisa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Form work, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Hockey sticks, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Skis, Sporting Goods, Stairworks, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile The environmental status of this species within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Throughout much of tropical Africa from the Ivory Coast to Sudan, then south to Angola and Tanzania. Tends to grow in the semi-deciduous, moist, dense forests and transition zones. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow Purple Green/grey White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Pale brown Freshly-Cut wood yellowish-white to light beige in color, but it turns to greyish beige upon exposure. Discoloration by fungi is a common feature. Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow Same as heartwood White to yellow Grain Figure Other (figure) Interlocked Straight Even Distinct (figure) Irregular Other figure Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Irregular Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Fine to medium Uniform Medium Luster Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack The sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Felled logs are susceptible to attack by longhorn beetles The wood is highly vulnerable to fungal staining, and requires immediate preventive measures after sawing Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content African celtis is reported to contain silica, but amounts are usually too low (less than 0.05% of ovendry weight) to affect machining operations. Toxicity Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Slight cupping Slight twist/warp Discoloration Interlocked grain may cause distortion Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Rapid Naturally dries at a moderate speed Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) 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 buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources Primary exporting countries are Ghana and Ivory Coast. Although current production is limited because of low demand, it could be increased substantially since the species is abundant and is widely distributed. Substitutes Except for steam bending application, African celtis is suggested as a potential substitute for Ash (Fraxinus). It is also considered to be a good flooring timber that wears smoothly Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Resistance to hand feeding in band-sawing and rip-sawing is rather considerable. Break-out at bottom and back of cut is also common during cross-cutting Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Medium Small Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor to Very Poor Results Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees is recommended in planing material containing interlocked and irregular grain Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Variable qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Logs slice and peel readily into veneer after steaming at a temperature of about 185 degrees F (85 degrees C). Satisfactory gluing is accomplished with urea or phenol glue types Steam Bending Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Excellent results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Good staining properties Finish is generally good Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = mediun Hardness (side grain) = soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high <