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Blunting Effect
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Luster
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Dacryodes igaganga

Trade Name
Adzum

Family Name
Burseraceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Adzum, Antaga, Assas, Bamisa, Beuhago, Bosao, Boso, Diganga, Eben, Esasia, Eyemedoime, Geyeumeyume, Ibagho, Iganga, Kisafou, Mokoba, Onumu, Orumu, Osa, Osegou, Ossabel, Ossamvegne

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Zaire

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Piling, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Turnery, Veneer

Heartwood Color
Red
Yellow
Orange
Pink
Brown
Purple
Pale red to pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown

Whitish

Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
White to yellow
Pink/Red
Paler than heartwood


Grain
Even
Closed
Interlocked
Straight
Wavy

Wavy
Straight
Interlocked


Texture
Medium
Fine
Coarse
Fine to medium


Luster
Medium


Natural Growth Defects
Gum/resin streaks


Natural Durability
Very durable
Resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Moderately durable
The heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable


Silica Content
Moderate silica contact


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Fairly Easy
Slowly


Kiln Drying Rate
Very slow
Naturally dries slowly
Drying rate is slow


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 10-20 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
High to severe
Blunting effect on machining is severe


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult


Gluing
Easy to glue


Movement in Service
Stable


Nailing
Holds nails well
Easy to nail


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Moderate working qualities


Screwing
Screwing yields good results
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Suitable for peeling
Steaming required to prepare bolts


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1051016340psi
Density38lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength57808614psi
Shearing Strength1939psi
Stiffness151217451000 psi
Weight3730lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength7381148kg/cm2
Density608kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Maximum Crushing Strength406605kg/cm2
Shearing Strength136kg/cm2
Stiffness1061221000 kg/cm2
Weight592480kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%

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

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada

France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.

Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7