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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 Comments 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Gonioma kamassi Trade Name Kamassi boxwood Family Name Apocynaceae Common Names African boxwood, Boxwood, Cape boxwood, East London boxwood, Kamassi, Kamassi boxwood, Kamassie, Kamassihout, Knysna, Knysna boxwood Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] South Africa, Swaziland Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Carvings, Engraving, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Handles, Joinery, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Musical instruments, Precision instruments, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Shuttles, Sills, Specialty items, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Status unsure as a result of insufficient information Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in some parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare within its natural growth range in Swaziland. Its status in South Africa is currently unknown because of inadequate information Distribution Overview Confined mainly to the midland coastal districts of South Africa. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Orange Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Yellowish brown Greenish to greyish The heartwood is a uniform yellow or yellow-brown color. The presence of incipient decay may produce a greenish tinge Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Same as heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Weak (figure) Figure Even Crossed Spiral Straight Weak figure Spiral grain occasionally Even Texture Medium Coarse Fine Fine Very fine Luster Medium Natural Growth Defects Incipient decay often discolors the center of logs Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Perishable Resistant to marine borers Durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Little natural resistance Untreated wood is prone to staining and severe splitting. Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Poisonous Sawdust can cause ear, eye or nose irritation in some individuals Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 T3 - C2 (4/4); T3 - C1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Internal Honeycombing Possible Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Rapid drying may cause excessive surface checking and severe splitting. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Dries well Dries slowly with little degrade Timber is reported to season well, with few defects if dried slowly. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Drying rate is slow Tree Size Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm The timber is available in logs of small sizes only, often up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter. Logs are often fluted and of poor form. Product Sources The timber is exported from South Africa in small quantities at a regular rate. It is usually shipped in squared billets cut to small sizes for manufacture. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Medium effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Very good to excellent results Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Works well with hand tools Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gum-Up Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Logs left exposed for long periods of time tend to develop deep splits along their entire length. Combined with spiral grain, this may cause a high percentage of waste factor during conversion. Waste Factor Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly difficult to glue Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good mortising properties Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Wood has tendency to ride on cutters Good moulding properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to nail Tends to split during nailing Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane The material planes with some difficulty. It has a tendency to ride on cutters. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is very resistant Heartwood is extremely difficult to treat with preservatives Resistance to Splitting Very Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Good response to hand tools Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Sanding finish is excellent Screwing Possible if prebored Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Turns well The timber is reported to turn exceptionally well, and is a preferred stock in making precision instruments. Also used for engraving and shuttles. Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Difficult to veneer Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Easy Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results