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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 Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gluta turtur Trade Name Rengas Family Name Anacardiaceae Common Names Rengas, Torotoro Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar Common Uses Balusters, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Packing cases, Piano keys, Pianos , Precision instruments, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sounding boards, Turnery Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Orange White Red Pink Red Dark brown The heartwood is a rich, vivid red to dark red color, with darker variegated streaks Sapwood Color Red Yellow White White to yellow Grey Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Crossed Interlocked Interlocked Crossed Texture Medium Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Luster Low Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Sapwood not resistant to insect attack Resistant to termites Susceptible to attack by marine borers The timber has very good resistance to the harmful effects of the weather, and is suitable for exterior applications Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Non-siliceous Unlike other species in the genus, this species is non-siliceous Toxicity Some toxic effects Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals The sap in green material is poisonous, and the sawdust may also be an irritant. Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Little degrade Requires special attention Easy Drying is relatively easy, but green material should be handled with caution since the sap is poisonous. Degrade is minimal, and thoroughly seasoned wood is safe to handle Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect Moderate Cutting edges are dulled slightly Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low cutting resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable The material is dimensionally stable, and retains its shape well after seasoning Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Yields smooth surfaces Responds satisfactorily to all woodworking operations Machines well with ordinary tools Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is resistant Heartwood is very resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Satisfactory response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Yields smooth surfaces Easy to sand Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer No drying degrade Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Tends to Degrade Unsuitable Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Painting Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Radial Shrinkage 3 % 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