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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 Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Guibourtia demeusei Trade Name Bubinga Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Copaifera laurentii Common Names Akume, Bubinga, Buvenga, Cameroons gum copal, Eban, Ebana, Essingang, Gabon kevazingo, Gum copal, Irun-nduk, Kasasesase, Kevazingo, Lianu, Lukunfu, Lusase, Mutenye, Ngulupang, Okweni, Ovang, Oveng, Waka, Waku Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Status unsure as a result of insufficient information Status unknown in many of its growth areas Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in some parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Extinct, Endangered, Rare, or Vulnerable in Uganda. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown due to insufficient information in the Central African Republic, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, and Zaire Distribution Overview Central and north Africa (Cameroon, Gabon) and usually found scattered in open savannah woodland among other species. Heartwood Color Brown Black Yellow Pale red to pink Reddish brown Red Brown The heartwood is medium red-brown in color, usually with lighter red to purple veins Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown White to yellow The sapwood is generally white with a grayish cast, ivory or ivory white with streaks, or brownish white. Grain Distinct (figure) Straight Figure Interlocked Closed Even Wavy Straight Distinct figure Interlocked Wavy Distinct and very fine figure Annual rings are distinct, and usually appear as darker summerwood. Fine pores, which often contain a reddish gum, are diffused throughout the wood Texture Medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Medium Fine to medium Luster Low High Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Very durable Perishable Non-durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Moderately durable High resistance to termite attack The timber is highly resistant to termite attack, and is moderately resistant to marine borers due to the presence of silica. Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains silica Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed T2 - C2 (4/4); T2 - C1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight end splitting No end splitting Moderate end spitting Stock should be seasoned slowly to prevent distortion and checking. Ease of Drying Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Fairly Easy Easy The material is reported to season readily with little degrade. Gum exudation may present some difficulty in drying. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber for export. Substitutes Pao rosa (Swartzia fistuloides) and Muiracataria (Astronium leicointei) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The trade name 'Kevazingo' is reserved for rotary-cut veneers which display the exotic coloring of Bubinga to the best advantage Blunting Effect High to severe Cutting edges dulled moderately to severely Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair results Easy Despite its hardness, the timber bores well but gum pockets may cause some difficulty Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good carving characteristics Carving properties are good, but gum pockets may be troublesome Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Gluing Easy to glue Difficult to glue Gum pockets may interfere with gluing operations Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Gum pockets may cause some difficulty, but the material generally mortises well. Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould A reduced angle of 15 degrees is recommended in moulding interlocked and irregular grained material. Movement in Service Stable The timber is dimensionally stable after drying, and retains its shape well after manufacture Nailing Difficult to nail Holds nails well Good nailing qualities Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Special attention suggested for best results A reduced angle of 15 degrees is required in planing interlocked and irregular grained material to prevent grain from picking up and tearing. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Good response to hand tools The wood works well with hand tools, despite its hardness. Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Very good response to sanding Sanding finish is excellent Screwing Possible if prebored Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Turning characteristics are rated as generally good, but gum exudation may cause some trouble. Veneering Qualities Various figures can yield decorative veneers Some logs, mainly from Gabon, are highly figured and are converted into attractive veneers for decorative applications such as, panelling, inlay work, high class furniture, and fancy turnery work Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Excellent results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to the grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15349 21735 psi Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2559 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7369 9869 psi Shearing Strength 2143 psi Stiffness 1893 2082 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.8 Weight 53 52 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1079 1528 kg/cm2 Density 881 kg/m3 Hardness 1160 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 518 693 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 150 kg/cm2 Stiffness 133 146 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.8 Weight 849 833 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1949,Bubinga (Guiboutia spp,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.12,pp429-432 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1977,Bubinga (Guibourtia spp,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.173, pp23-35 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 Edlin, H.L. 1969. What Wood is That?: A Manual of Wood Identification. A Studio Book, The Viking Press, New York. Edlin, H.L.,1969,What wood is that? A Manual of Wood Identification,Jarrold and Sons Ltd. Norwich Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO France - C.T.F.T.,1961,Resultats des Observations et des Essais effectues au C.T.F.T. sur Bubinga,(Guibourtia spp.,C.T.F.T.,Information Tec.,No.118 France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12 HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC Perrot, E.,1921,Les Bois du Gabon,Larose Paris Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1969. World Timbers, Volume One - Europe & Africa. Published by Ernest Benn Limited, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London. Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London