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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 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 Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Fagaropsis angolensis Trade Name Mafu Family Name Rutaceae Synonyms Clausenopsis angolensis, Fagaropsis oppositifolia Common Names Carumo, Chepkweret, Dero, Kabegwi, Mafu, Mfu, Mkunguni, Mouke, Mtongoti, Mukarakati, Mumara, Murumu, Muua, Muyinja, Muyinya, Nkunguni, Noiuet, Schapindi, Shigulotso, Siguilou Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Inlay work, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Ornamental work , Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya), found in rain and subtropical forests to elevations of about 6,000 ft. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Red Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color White White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Greenish Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Wavy Even Closed Weak (figure) Generally straight, but not always Distinct figure Wavy Distinct and fine figure Weak figure Distinct figure Distinct and fine figure Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Texture is moderate to fine, and growth rings tend to be distinct Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Non durable Very durable Susceptible to attack by marine borers Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Moderatly resistant to attack by termites Moderately resistant to attack by termites Odor Taste described as bitter No odor, generally. Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T3-C2(4/4) US T3-C1-(8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Moderate end spitting Slight end splitting Severe end splitting Moderate surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Easy Difficult Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Possible splitting during initial stages of sawing Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Good finishing results Responds well to all types of cutters Movement in Service Medium Stable Splitting of fixed panels (as in tables or desks) occurs frequently at low humidities. Nailing Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane The material is reported to plane cleanly, but slow feeds are recommended to prevent grain from tearing. Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood responds poorly to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing yields good results Routing is easy Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Yields smooth surfaces Screwing Good screw holding properties Difficult to screw Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Yields clean surfaces Polishing Satisfactory results Good results The wood takes a high polish without filling. Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9475 14334 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1531 lbs Impact Strength 22 35 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6302 9007 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1576 1919 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.52 Weight 38 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 666 1007 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Hardness 694 kg Impact Strength 55 88 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 443 633 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 110 134 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.52 Weight 608 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1948,Clausenopsis angolensis,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.6,PP124-6 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 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1955,Kiln-Drying Schedules,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Leaflet,No.42 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department Logan, W.E.M.,1946,An Introduction to the Forests of Central and Southern Ethiopia,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford Paper No.24 McCoy-Hill, M.,1955,Timbers of Tanganyika - Afzelia quanzensis, Fagaropsis and Sterculia,appendiculata,Timber Technology,63(2191,p260 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda 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 Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Tanzania Forest Department,1966,Flooring Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Tanzania Forest Division,1961,Fagaropsis angolensis (Mafu,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47 Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya