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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. Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Isoberlinia scheffleri Trade Name Mbarika Family Name Caesalpiniaceae Common Names Mbarika Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Tanzania Common Uses Boxes and crates, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Ladders, Light construction, Piling, Plywood corestock, Railroad ties, Toys Heartwood Color Brown Red Reddish brown Sapwood Color Yellow White to yellow Well defined Grain Wavy Straight Closed Figure Even Stripe (figure) Variable (figure) Wavy Straight Variable figure Striped figure Texture Medium Coarse Coarse Luster High Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Checking Discoloration Distortion Moderate spring/bow No surface checking Slight end splitting No end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Kiln Drying Rate 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 buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing results Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Medium Not stable/prone to move Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Possible if prebored Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5706 8526 psi Shearing Strength 1721 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 401 599 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 121 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. 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 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forestry Department,1963,Timbers of Tanganyika - Isoberlinia scheffleri,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika