Search for

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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Diospyros mannii Trade Name Demi-deuil Family Name Ebenaceae Synonyms Diospyros aggregata Common Names Demi-deuil, Ebene, Ebony Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Plywood, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color Brown Black Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White Grain Even Closed Figure Straight Wavy Distinct (figure) Wavy Straight Distinct figure Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Perishable Odor Has an odor Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Drying Defects Checking Discoloration Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Medium to High Shrinkage Moderately Difficult to Difficult Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 58 lbs/ft3 Weight 57 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Density 929 kg/m3 Weight 913 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % 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