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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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability 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 Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Entandrophragma candollei Trade Name Omu Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Entandrophragma ferrugineum Common Names Atom, Atom assie, Bouboussou rouge, Candollei, Diamuni, Entandrophragma mahogany, Esaka, Heavy mahogany, Heavy sapele, Heavy sapelle, Impompo, Kosipo, Lifaki mpembe, Lifuco, Okpoloco, Omu, Penkkwa akowaa, Penkwa, Penkwa-akowaa, Pepedom, Sapele-heavy, Tshimaie tshikunze, Tshimaye rouge, Unscented mahogany Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Classified as Endangered in Liberia, Rare in Cameroon, and Vulnerable in the Ivory Coast Distribution Overview West Africa to Angola and the Congo region (Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria); in evergreen, moist, and transitional formations. A large tree of lowland rainforest. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Purple Purple Reddish brown Dark brown Purplish brown Brown Sapwood Color White Green/Grey Yellow Well defined White to yellow Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Pale brown Grey Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Even Mottle Rippled (figure) Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Straight to interlocked Rippled figure Mottled or streaked figure sometimes When present, interlocking grain is reported to produce a mottled or striped figure. Wrinkly grain is also occasionally present. Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium to coarse Even textured Luster Dull Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to pinhole borer Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately resistant to attack by termites Durable Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Contains silica Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Checking Distortion Severe twisting/warping Moderate collapse and honeycombing Ease of Drying Rapidly Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Variable results. Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Easy Dries slowly It should be stacked carefully to minimize defects. A mild kiln schedule is recommended for best results Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly 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 straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bark width is 0-5 mm Bark width is 10-15 mm Bark width is 5-10 mm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Buttresses with heights up to 3 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced regularly and exported frequently. Substitutes Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Timber produced by Omu is comparatively harder and heavier than other species in the genus Entandrophragma. Blunting Effect Little High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe High effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Poor to very poor results Easy Cutting edges tend to dull rapidly Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Good properties Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to mortise Easy to mortise Support material during mortising to prevent break out. Good mortising properties Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to mould Easy to mould Tends to tear where interlocked grain is present A reduction of the cutting angle to 20 degrees is recommended for best results. Movement in Service Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing properties Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Easy to plane A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended Interlocked material has a tendency to tear. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good in both routing and recessing Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Yields smooth, clean surfaces Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Easy to screw Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Yields smooth, clean surface. Responds well Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Poor Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Stains well