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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Diospyros mespiliformis Trade Name African ebony Family Name Ebenaceae Common Names African ebony, Alom, Bergem, Bugao, Burgum, Dabakala sunsu, Donko, Doue, Ebenier, Ebony, Ferdamu, Ga, Gawelle, Ginga, Gughan, Igi dudu, Jakkalsbessie, Jeti, Jukhan, Kaiwa, Kanya, Karan, Keke, Keyi keyi, Kukuo, Kukuwo, Legabol, Matoomba, Monkey guava, Muchenja, Muchenje, Mukuchumswa, Nangalo, Nelberi, Obiudu, Okusibiri, Onye-koji, Sunsu, Sunsun, Swamp ebony, West African ebony, White ebony, Yeti, Zanzibar ebony Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Golf club heads, Handles: general, Musical instruments: percussion, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes Heartwood Color Brown Red Black Purple Green/grey Black White to cream Pale red to pink Reddish brown Dark brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Pink White to yellow Grain Closed Interlocked Wavy Interlocked Wavy Texture Coarse Fine Luster Medium High Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Non durable Durable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Moderate end spitting Slight surface checking Severe cupping Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Resistance to Splitting Very Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling No drying degrade Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Work to Maximum Load = medium Toughness (total work) = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9577 14919 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 5408 8171 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Toughness 363 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 12 17 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 49 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 673 1048 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 380 574 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 418 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.84 1.19 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 785 673 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75 Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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 Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Nigeria Department of Forest Research,1967,The Properties of Some Savanna Timber Trees,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Report, No.11 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 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 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi