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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 Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Afzelia quanzensis Trade Name Chanfuta Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Afzelia, Aiyo, Aligna, Apa, Azza, Beyo, Bilinga, Chamfuta, Chamfuti, Chanfuta, Chanfuti, Chemnen, Doussie, East African afzelia, Hlafuta, Isbin, Kipapa, Lucky bean, Mahogany bean, Mapoortza, Mbambakofi, Mbarakun, Mbarikwa, Mbembakofe, Mbembakofi, Mfunguji, Mkehli, Mkola, Mkongo, Mkora, Mungongona, Mungoriondo, Mungwingwi, Mupapa, Musacassa, Mussalossa, Mwamba, N'shene, Ompow, Onvru, Oshoshi, Peulmahonia, Pod mahogany, Red-arilled afzelia, Rhodesian mahogany, Shenhe Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Abundant Distribution Overview It's natural distribution is in eastern and southern Africa in low altitude woodland and dry forest, 0-1800 m altitude, with a mean annual rainfall around 1000 mm and a temperature range of 17-30°C. Prefers medium to light soil or sand and does not tolerate waterlogging. It is very drought resistant but frost sensitive and slow growing in colder areas. The species has been heavily logged for railway sleepers and is now protected in South Africa. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange White Pink Purple Reddish brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Pale red to pink Dark brown Yellowish brown White to cream Turn reddish brown upon exposure Pinkish brown It has been compared to a dense-grade of a beautiful mahogany (Swietenia spp.) in appearance Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Whitish Pale yellow Pale straw Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Straight Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Weak (figure) Even Irregular Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Other figure Weak figure Distinct and fine figure Irregular Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Luster Low Medium Dull Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Durable Very durable Resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Suitable for marine applications Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to teredo worms Resistant to decay Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately durable Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Non-corrosive Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Extension of Existing Shakes Ring Shakes Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight checking and cracking Shakes may become extended Moderate end spitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Variable Slowly Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Variable results. Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Easy Dries slowly with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Boles clear of branching from 12 to 20 feet (3.7 to 6 m.)Very large and spreading Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Generally strong and durable The wood makes attractive doors, window frames, floors and staircases, and is a popular wood locally for highly ornamental carved doors and chests. It's also a favorite for joinery. The wood contains a yellow dye-stuff (afzelin) which can stain textile materials under moist conditions Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Relatively hard wood Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Difficult to saw Cutting edges are dulled rapidly Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Carefully Controlled Conditions Difficult to glue Easy to glue Use special attention for best results Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Good finishing results Easy to mould Difficult to mould (due to rapid dulling of cutters) Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Stable Extremely stable Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Requires appropriate tools and a reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees to prevent torn grain. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is moderately treatable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work