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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Diospyros ebenum Trade Name Black ebony Family Name Ebenaceae Common Names Abnus, Acha, Bale, Black ebony, Dumbi, Ebans, Ebony, Kakataki, Karemara, Karimaran, Karu, Karunthali, Karunthoverai, Kendhu, Mallali, Mushtimbe, Nallati, Nalluti, Shengutan, Tai, Tendu, Tuki, Tumbi, Tumiki Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Sri Lanka Common Uses Carvings, Inlay work, Musical instruments , Piano keys, Turnery Environmental Profile Status unknown due to inadequate information Status has not been officially assessed Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Southern India and Sri Lanka, cultivated in Peninsular Malaysia. In India it is found in the hills of the Deccan and Carnatic, extending north to the Cuddapah and Kurnool districts. Prefers dry forests. Grows as an understorey tree in mixed evergreen dry zone forests of Sri Lanka.. Heartwood Color Black Highly variable Lustrous dark brown to black Jet black Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White Red White to yellow Grey Frequently streaked with black Grain Closed Even Figure Straight Irregular May be straight, irregular, or wavy Closed Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Even textured The wood is very hard Luster Metallic luster Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Heartwood has high natural resistance to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Checking Wetwood may cause honeycomb, collapse and waterpockets Severe drying schedules may result in end and surface checking Black portions are especially prone to checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Requires care to minimize degrade To minimize drying degrade, material should be converted into the smallest sizes possible, and should be well protected Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m The tree is relatively small Product Sources The principal source of Ebony timber in India, the tree is seldom harvested for export since it is rarely obtainable in sufficient sizes and quantities. Blunting Effect High to severe Severe blunting effect on cutting surfaces The wood is hard and heavy Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results High density makes wood difficult to plane and work Hard, heavy wood dulls cutting edges severely Difficult to plane Black ebony is hard and brittle, and chips easily. It is difficult to work in planing and most operations, and tends to dull cutters severely since it is hard and heavy Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Excellent Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent results Strength Properties Heavy The wood is exceptionally heavy. It weighs much more than Hard maple or Teak in the green or seasoned condition. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.84 Weight 72 59. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.84 References Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London. Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1970. World Timbers, Volume Three - Asia & Australia & New Zealand. Published by Ernest Benn Limited, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London. Troup, R.S. 1909. Indian Woods and Their Uses. The Indian Forest Memoirs, Economic Products Series, Volume 1, No. 1. Superintendent, Government Printing, Calcutta, India.