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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gilbertiodendron dewevrei Trade Name Abeum a grandes feuilles Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Macrolobium dewevrei Common Names Abeum a grandes feuilles, Abeum grdes feuilles, Bemba, Bembe, Ditshipi, Ekobem, Ekpagoi, Ekpagoi eze, Ekpagoieze, Epal, Eze, Ligudu, Ligundu, Limbali, Limbalu, Mbombi, Molapa, Sehmeh, Vaa, Wete, Zabrano, Zebra wood Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Paneling, Piling, Railroad ties, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wheels Heartwood Color Brown Red Green/grey Reddish brown Brown Pale brown Dark brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Red Brown Paler than heartwood White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Grain Interlocked Straight Even Crossed Spiral Figure Rippled (figure) Interlocked Straight Spiral Rippled figure Texture Medium Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Fine Medium Fine to medium Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Natural Durability Resistant to termites Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Very good to excellent results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Possible if prebored Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is very resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Good gluing qualities Diifficult to veneer Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Varnishing Good results Satisfactory Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13620 20489 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5375 8092 psi Shearing Strength 1775 psi Stiffness 1916 2209 1000 psi Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 957 1440 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 377 568 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 124 kg/cm2 Stiffness 134 155 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References Altamirano, S.V.,1992,Maderas de Bolivia (Caracteristicas y usos de 55 maderas tropicals,Camara Nacional Forestal Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1992,Limbali - Gilbertiodendron dewevrei J.Leonard.,Bois et Forets des Tropiques Vol. 234 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1992,Nouvelles essences Commercialisables d'Afrique - Limbali (Gilbertiodendron,dewevrei,Bois et Forests Des Tropiques No.234 (4) 69 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 Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada France - C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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