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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum Trade Name Agba Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Achi, Achi-aro, Agba, Agbara, Boana, Dembo, Ditchipi, Egba, Emonga, Emongi, Loshi-erin, Mboron, Moboron, Mpele, Mpere, Mupaka, Mushilu mutoke, Mutsekamambole, N'Tola, Nigerian cedar, Ntola, Okimeten, Pink mahogany, Tola, Tola blanc, Tola branca, Tshibudimbu tshitoke, White tola Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Zaire Common Uses Balusters, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stairworks, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Endangered Extinct Abundant/Secure Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Endemic to the Guineo-Congolian region. G. balsamiferum occurs in Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria and Zaire. This shade-tolerant species usually grows in mature little-disturbed forest (evergreen or semi- deciduous) and occurs at elevations below 500m. This species flourishes on ferruginous soils derived from secondary sediments. It is absent or rare from part of its range within the main Nigeria-Zaire forest block. In the Congo, in the forest zone between Louessé and Niari of Makabana, stands of G. balsamiferum are found with 5 or 6 exploitable trees per hectare. It favors deep soil and plenty of moisture. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink White Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Pale brown Reddish brown Brown Yellowish brown Pinkish brown Darkens upon exposure Dark brown The heartwood is initially yellowish- to pinkish- brown, but it darkens upon exposure. It is described as reddish-brown, with a distinct brick-red or terracotta-pink tinge. The wood has a bright, clean compact appearance, with some similarities to mahogany. Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Brown Paler than heartwood White to yellow Same as heartwood Well defined Pinkish The sapwood is lighter in color than the heartwood, and is not very distinct. Sapwood width is usually about 4 inches (10 cm) or more. Grain Straight Interlocked Wavy Figure Closed Even Growth rings (figure) Distinct (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Interlocked Wavy Weak figure Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) The annual rings are marked by clear and slightly darker streaks of dry-season wood which give the wood a faint grain. Interlocked grain and luster combine to give radially cut wood an attractive appearance. Texture Fine Medium Fine Fine to medium Medium Even textured Evenly scattered coarse pores are reported to result in fine vessel lines on all lengthwise surfaces. Luster Medium High Pronounced Lustrous Slightly lustrous High Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Gum/resin streaks Gum and mineral deposits Gum pockets are reported to often affect the quality of the wood, and shakes close to the heart may contain accumulations of resin. Resin exudation may cause freshly sawed boards to stick together if they are stacked without stickers. High kiln-drying temperatures may also cause gum to bleed to the surface Natural Durability Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Moderately durable Perishable Non-durable Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Moderately durable Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood is naturally durable Heartwood resistant Weathering Good Odor Resinous wood has peppery odor when freshly cut No distinct taste Silica Content High Siliceous Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 T10 - D5s (4/4); T8 - D4s (8/4) US Schedule J - United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Resin Exudation Checking Expect resin/gum exudation No twisting or warping Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting No surface checking Warping can be expected No end splitting Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Gum Exudation Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Radial - 1.5% Shrinkage from green to 12% MC Tangential - 3.0% The wood dries fairly easily, with a slight tendency to check and warp. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 30-40 m Product Sources Although the species is abundant and relatively inexpensive, it is seldom available through retailers of hardwoods for furniture in North America. Supplies are mostly in Europe, but Agba is also often found in the US as corestock in plywood or as the secondary wood in furniture from Europe. Agba is not actively sought after on the US market because many domestic species which are in abundant supplies can be used for the same applications. The wood matchs with Oak veneer, which can save money on solid sections. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Idigbo (Terminalia ivorensis) is similar in appearance. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Slight effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate The wood has small blunting effect on cutting edges, but gum may accumulate on cutters. Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Response to boring operations is good, but cutters may gum up. Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good carving characteristics Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Low cutting resistance The wood has very little resistance to cutting, but resin tends to accumulate on saws. Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to mortise Cutters may gum up, but the timber is generally easy to mortise. Moulding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Responds fairly well to moulding operations The wood responds readily to machine tools in moulding operations. Gum may accumulate on cutters. Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning, and retains its shape well in use Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy