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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
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
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Desbordesia pierreana

Trade Name
Alep

Family Name
Simaroubaceae

Synonyms
Desbordesia insignis, Desbordesia pierreana, Irvingia oblonga


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Alep, Alo, Aloi, Banga, Bwiba njoc, Kawo, Oman, Omang, Oteva, Teva

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Gabon, Nigeria, Zaire

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Construction, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Turnery, Vehicle parts

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Purple
Green/grey
Yellow
White
Black
Orange
Pink
Dark brown


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Brown
White to yellow
Different than heartwood
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood


Grain
Straight
Even

Straight


Texture
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Coarse


Luster
Medium
High


Natural Durability
Resistant to marine borers
Very durable
Resistant to termites
Durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Durable

The heartwood is naturally resistant to decay and attack by marine borers and termites. The material has good weathering characteristics, and is suitable for use in exterioir applications

Odor
No specific smell or taste


Silica Content
High
Siliceous


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Drying Defects
Checking
Splitting
Distortion
Collapse
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Moderate end spitting
Moderate surface checking


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
May split while drying
Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Drying rate is slow
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries slowly
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Drying rate is moderate
Slow
Very slow


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Bole length is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
High to severe
Blunting effect on machining is severe


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Moderate to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Very good properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Stability is good
Large


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Pre-Boring Recommended
Very Good to Excellent Results
Satisfactory nailing properties
Pre-Boring is necessary


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Difficult to plane
Very Heavy
Peel and slice easily because they are typically well-formed and not very hard
Generally difficult to use hand tools


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood


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


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Pre-boring recommended
Possible if prebored


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Veneering Qualities
Difficult to veneer
Suitable for peeling
No drying degrade


Painting
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory results
Excellent results


Staining
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


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


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Max. crushing strength = very high
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Max. crushing strength = high
Shrinkage, Volumetric = large
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1820425982psi
Density50lbs/ft3
Hardness2940lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength899012374psi
Shearing Strength2205psi
Stiffness237327521000 psi
Weight5349lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage12%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength12791826kg/cm2
Density801kg/m3
Hardness1333kg
Maximum Crushing Strength632869kg/cm2
Shearing Strength155kg/cm2
Stiffness1661931000 kg/cm2
Weight849785kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

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

France - C.T.F.T.,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au CTFT sur :Angueuk -,Ongokea gore,C.T.F.T., No.140

France - C.T.F.T.,Resultats des Observations et des essais effectues au CTFT sur Alep,C.T.F.T., No.146

Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun

Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data

Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies

Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21

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









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