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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Steam Bending Texture Trade Name Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Gilbertiodendron mayombense Trade Name Kifusa Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Kifusa, Mbanda, Mpossa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Congo Common Uses Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Utility furniture Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Reddish brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Pale yellow Grey Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Birds-eye (figure) Interlocked Texture Medium Resinous and oily Natural Durability Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Interlocked Straight Even Crossed Spiral Figure Rippled (figure) Has an odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Drying Defects Distortion Warping can be expected Checking Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Difficult The material is generally difficult to season. It should be kiln-dried slowly, and air-seasoned under controlled conditions to minimize degrade Blunting Effect Cutting edges are dulled slightly Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Satisfactory results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds fairly well to carving Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Easy to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds fairly well to moulding operations Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Yields smooth surfaces Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Satisfactory response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory routing qualities Sanding Fair to Good Results Satisfactory sanding characteristics Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Steam Bending Moderate Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fair results Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Numerical Data Item Green Dry English 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