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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 Certified Source 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 Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Entandrophragma utile Trade Name Utile Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Entandrophragma roburoides Common Names Abebay, Afrobrodiju, Akuk, Asseng assie, Assi, Assie, Bokoi, Budongo heavy mahogany, Efuchyewee, Efuo-konkonti, Efuobrodidwo, Efuodwe, Feather sapele, Kalungi, Kosi-kosi, Liboyo, Libuyu, M'vovo, Mebrou, Mfumbi, Mufumbi, Mufumbi mahogany, Muyovu, Okeong, Sapele mahogany, Sipo, Timbi, Tshimaie n'shibu, Tsimaie tshibu, Undianuno, Utile Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, 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, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting 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 and Uganda, while its status is rated as Vulnerable in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast Distribution Overview Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda, in various lowland forest types. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Orange Reddish brown Purple Pale red to pink Brown Red Purplish brown Pale pink brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Well defined Pinkish Different than heartwood Light brown Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Up to 2 inches (0.50 cm) wide. Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Weak figure Rippled figure Clear growth rings (figure) Ribbon figure or a wide, often irregular stripe on quartersawn surfaces Texture Coarse Medium Fine Medium to coarse Luster High Medium Pronounced Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Odor Faint cedar-like scent Toxicity Some toxic effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Distortion Checking Slight twist/warp Severe twisting/warping Moderate twist/warp Slight end splitting Varies considerably Slight surface checking Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Slowly Fairly Easy Easy Variable results. Moderate Difficult It kiln-dries satisfactorily with only slight degrade, except in material containing severely interlocked grain. Varies from slow to fairly rapid. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important and regular source of timber for export. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Light bosse (Guarea cedrata) and Dark bosse (Guarea thompsonii) are good substitutes in exterior joinery (windows). Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) is also similar in its properties. Comments Effect on Metals General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood may cause corrosion in iron and materials with iron content. Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is variable Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult This wood works fairly easily with hand and machine tools but it may char during boring. Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult 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 Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Difficult to mortise Good mortising properties Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to mould Difficult to mould Tends to tear where interlocked grain is present Reduced cutting angle is suggested Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing properties Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Difficult to plane A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has been recommended in planing material with interlocked grain. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is highly resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Easy to machine Responds well Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Very good characteristics Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Turning Poor to Very Poor Results