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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 Luster Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Diospyros celebica Trade Name Macassar ebony Family Name Ebenaceae Common Names Calamander wood, Camagon, Coromandel, Golden ebony, Indian ebony, Macassar ebony, Temru, Tendu, Timbruni, Tunki Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Indonesia, Philippines Common Uses Billiard-cue butts, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Decorative veneer, Inlay work, Musical instruments , Tool handles, Turnery, Walking sticks Environmental Profile Rare in many parts of its range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Endemic to Sulawesi. This species usually occurs on poor rocky soils of around pH4 in Lowland rainforest forest in vicinity of Malili. This species is found in rain and monsoon forests; however, D. celebica can grow in both humid conditions and in seasonal climates. It can survive on a variety of soils (e.g. latosols, calcareous, and podzolic soils). It occurs in undulating areas upto 600m above sea level. May also be present on the Philippine Islands and the Celebes Islands. Heartwood Color Brown Red Green/grey Pink Reddish brown Black with reddish/brown streaks Color combinations make the wood an attractive choice for face veneers Sapwood Color Red Brown Pink Uniform light red Grain Even Straight Figure Straight to roey Texture Fine Fine Luster Metallic luster Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Perishable Non-durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to attack by forest longhorn beetle Moderately resistant to attack by termites Heartwood has high natural resistance to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Rapid drying may cause end- and surface-checking Drying heartwood may result in long, fine and deep checks Ease of Drying Season slowly to prevent defects Heartwood, especially thicker stock, is difficult to season Trees are sometimes girdled and allowed to dry out for two years before felling. Air-drying for six-months after this procedure is reported to give the best results Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m The tree is generally small Product Sources Macassar ebony is rare and is one of the most expensive timbers on the commercial market. Veneer is more available but is also costly. Comments Black heart = brittle Macassar ebony heartwood is strong, very heavy, and very hard. The black heart is usually brittle, and the wood is used mostly for decorative purposes. The appearance of ebony is sometimes imitated by staining other woods, such as Hornbeam (Ostrya ), a black color Mostly used for decorative purposes Strong Very hard Very heavy Blunting Effect Moderate Fairly severe blunting effect on cutters Cutting Resistance High cutting resistance because of hardness Gluing Satisfactory gluing properties Movement in Service Very stable after seasoning Small Planing Special attention required Difficult to plane Macassar ebony works rather slowly because it is hard. Reduced cutting angles are recommended for best results in machining operations. Working properties are rated as generally difficult becuase the wood tends to be brittle Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Highly resistant to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Screwing Nailing/screwing difficult without pre-boring Turning Very good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Excellent results Strength Properties Heavy It is exceptionally heavy, weighing much more than White oak or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 1.01 Weight 66 54. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 1.01 References Edlin, H.L. 1969. What Wood is That? - A Manual of Wood Identification. A Studio Book, The Viking Press, New York. Kaiser, J. 1991. Wood of the Month:Macassar Ebony - A Highly Decorative Wood. Wood and Wood Products, January 1991, Page 50. Kline, M. 1977. Diospyros celebica - Macassar ebony. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. Page 139-140. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Nairn, P.M. Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color - A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London.