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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 Comments 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 Schedules Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Didelotia brevipaniculata Trade Name Sapo Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Andjung, Andoung, Bondu, Ekop zing, Sapo, Toubaouate, Touwe, Zing Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Liberia Common Uses Bent Parts, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview West Africa (Liberia and Cameroon) in evergreen rain forests. Heartwood Color Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Pink/Red Clearly differentiated from the heartwood There is usually a greenish tint along the sapwood-heartwood boundary. Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Moderately to severely interlocked Texture Fine Medium to coarse Coarse Luster Low Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules A mild schedule is recommended Drying Defects Distortion Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting End splitting Ease of Drying Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Moderate Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Boles are straight and well-formed, Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Blunting of saws Gluing Very good properties Easy to glue Nailing Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to use machine tools Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Sanding Very Good Sanding Properties Screwing Good screw holding properties Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Logs are reported to peel and slice into veneers without difficulty. Polishing Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8510 14334 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 7026 psi Stiffness 1188 1498 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.54 Weight 36 29 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 598 1007 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 275 493 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 105 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.54 Weight 576 464 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department 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