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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Gambeya lacourtiana Trade Name Abam Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Chrysophyllum autranianium, Chrysophyllum lacourtianum Common Names Abam, Aningueri, Bambou, Kalume ka dimpampi, Longhi, Longui, M'bebame, Obom Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Purple Black Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Reddish brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White Yellow Paler than heartwood Same as heartwood Grain Straight Even Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Distinct figure Texture Fine Fine Medium Fine to medium Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Perishable Moderately durable Drying Defects Internal Honeycombing Possible Distortion Collapse Checking Ease of Drying Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Naturally dries at a moderate speed Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13426 20398 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5706 8526 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Weight 42 34 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 943 1434 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 401 599 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 673 544 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References 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 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fouarge, J.,1950,Appropriation de Bois Congolais aux Besoins de la Metropole,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.38 Fouarge, J.,1953,Bois du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76 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 Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim 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