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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 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 Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Entandrophragma angolense Trade Name Gedu nohor Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Entandrophragma rederi, Entandrophragma septentrionale Common Names Abenbegne, Abeubegne, Acajou tiama, Acuminata, Akuk, Baeko, Baka-biraingui, Bodongo, Brown mahogany tiama, Budongo mahogany, Digbo, Dongomanguila, Dubo, Dukuma, Edinam, Egin-igedu, Entandrophragma mahogany, Esaka, Eyin igedu, Gedu lohor, Gedu noha, Gedu nohor, Ijebu, Ipaki, Jebu mahogany, Kahiguigo, Kalungi, Keguigo, Kikura, Kiluka, Krobra, Lifaki, Livuite, Lokobo, Lukru, Mukusu, Muyovu, Njilei, Ounabo, Penkwa, Tiama, Tiama-tiama, Timbi, Tshimaie tsitoke, Tshimaye blanc, Vovo, Zize-plehi, Zizia Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Classified as Endangered in Kenya and Liberia, Rare in Cameroon, and Vulnerable in Ivory Coast and Uganda. It is also currently rated as a Candidate for Assessment in Ghana because it is suspected to be either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare Distribution Overview West, Central, and East Africa (Uganda, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Zaire); occurs in rain forests, deciduous forests, and transitional formations.  Coppices freely at the pole stage. Heartwood Color Red Purple Reddish brown Pale red to pink Dark brown Turn reddish brown upon exposure Purple Pinkish brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Pinkish Well defined Paler than heartwood White to yellow Pale pink Creamy white Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Crossed Rippled (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Rippled figure Moderately to severely interlocked Crossed Texture Medium Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Uniform Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Pronounced Dull Natural Growth Defects Large amounts of gum Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to pinhole borer Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Severe twisting/warping Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Slight end splitting Moderate cupping Warping can be expected Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Drying must be carried out slowly and mildly to avoid additional defects such as checking and splitting. Timber does not warp excessively in thicker dimensions Ease of Drying Slowly Difficult Easy Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced regularly and is a regular and fairly important export commodity. Substitutes Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy The wood bores to produce relatively smooth surfaces. Carving Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low resistance Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Lighter-Colored wood tends to be woolly and therefore more difficult to saw than darker wood. Gluing Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Glues well Mortising Difficult to mortise Finishes well The wood is reported to mortise cleanly but it has a tendency to char. Moulding Difficult to mould Good finishing results Interlocked grain tends to cause the wood to tear if cutting angle is not reduced to 15 degrees. Movement in Service Small Medium Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Holds nails well Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a poor finish A 15 degree cutting angle is reported to give good planing results. Backsawn surfaces are reported to plane readily and finish smoothly, but quartersawn surfaces may pick up considerably in material containing interlocked grain. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Responds well Quartersawn surfaces of material containing interlocked grain may pick up considerably. Darker colored material is relatively easier to work than lighter colored wood. Routing & Recessing Very good in both routing and recessing Routing is easy Sanding Yields smooth, clean surfaces Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Satisfactory characteristics Easy to screw Turning Easy to turn Good results Yields smooth, clean surface. Responds well Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor Very poor Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Stains well Stains evenly Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Toughness (total work) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large