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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 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 Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cordia spp. Trade Name Bon Family Name Boraginaceae Common Names Bon, Ebe, Ebois, Kyenboa, Omo, Tweneboa, West African cordia Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Carvings, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Musical instruments, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Heartwood Color White Red Yellow Brown Pink Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Texture Medium Coarse Coarse Medium to coarse Luster Medium Low Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Durable Very durable Non-durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Perishable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Durable Odor Has an odor Silica Content Siliceous High Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Slight spring/bow Slight twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bark width is 10-15 mm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bark width is 15-20 mm Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Bark width is 20-25 mm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Substitutes Teak Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8777 13675 psi Density 54 lbs/ft3 Hardness 657 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3324 5570 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 53 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 617 961 kg/cm2 Density 865 kg/m3 Hardness 298 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 233 391 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 849 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % References 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. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T