Search for

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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Juniperus procera Trade Name African pencil cedar Family Name Coniferae Common Names African pencil cedar, Afrikanishces bleistieftholz, East African cedar, East African juniper, Juniper, Mtarakwa, Mukuu, Murana, Murara, Mutarakwa, Mutarkwa, Mwangati, Ndarakwa, Ol tarakwa, Ol-tarakwa, Pencil cedar, Pencile cedar, Tarakit, Tarakuet, Tarokwa, Teet, Thed, Tolokyo, Torokio, Uganda juniper, Ugandan juniper Regions of Distribution Africa, Mediterranean Sea Region Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical containers, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Pencil, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stairworks, Stools, Toys, Turnery, Vats Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Vulnerable in Uganda. Its stauts is listed as unknown because of inadequate information in Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zaire, Zimbabwe, and South Africa Distribution Overview E Africa: NE Sudan near the Red Sea, the Ethiopian Highlands, in Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, in extreme eastern Congo Republic (Haut Katanga), Malawi, northeastern Zimbabwe; also in the mountains adjoining the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Juniperus procera occurs in the mountainous regions and highlands of East Africa. ... This distribution coincides largely with the Eritreo-Arabian Subregion of Takhtajan. The southernmost occurrence of the genus is in the Inyanga Mountains of Zimbabwe, but it is represented by a single (protected) tree only. Its altitudinal range in Africa is between 1050-3600 m, it occurs most commonly between 1800-2700 m. Rainfall is the predominant factor determining growth and occurrence; in East Africa it is most luxuriant where the rainfall averages 1000-1200 mm annually. Stunted trees are still found in savannahs with annual precipitation of only 400 mm. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Black Green/grey Orange Reddish brown Purple Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Red Turn reddish brown upon exposure Yellowish brown Similar in appearance to the popular Pencil cedar (Juniperus virginiana ), but it has less defined growth rings. Sapwood Color Green/Grey Brown Yellow White to yellow Well defined White Paler than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Figure Crossed Even Distinct (figure) Spiral Stripe (figure) Straight Distinct figure Striped figure Spiral grain occasionally Produces attractive figure on quartersawn surfaces Texture Medium Coarse Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Natural Growth Defects Ingrown bark and heart rot are common. Compression wood, which is more prevalent in timber from natural forests, may also be present. Natural Durability Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood resistant to decay Resistant to most forms of insect attack, with the exception of the borer Oemida gahani. Odor Pleasant, cedar scent Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe twisting/warping Lumber in thicker dimensions may warp and check during drying. Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries slowly Radial - 2.0% Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC Tangential - 3.0% Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is unknown Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 30-40 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Reported to develop tapering boles above a fluted base Product Sources African pencil cedar has largely replaced the popular American species (J. virginiana) for the production of pencils when the latter became scarce, but it is currently competeing with American incence cedar (Libocedrus decurrens), which has milder properties, and is also easier to cut in any direction. African pencil cedar is exported as lumber and in the form of pencil slats, and the sawdust yields Cedarwood oil upon distillation. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Little dulling effect Boring Fair to good results Difficult Moderately easy The fissile and brittle nature of the wood may cause it to break and chip during boring. Adequate support is required. Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good carving properties Brittle wood may chip and break Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Saws without difficulty Gluing Easy to glue Very good properties Moderate gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moderately easy to mortise Finishes poorly End-Grain material should be supported to prevent break-out. Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding ease is moderate The timber responds well to moulding, but it requires sufficient support to prevent chipping Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Stable Shows only small movement after manufacture Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Tends to split during nailing Requires pre-boring Possible if prebored Poor nailing properties Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane The timber is reported to plane rather easily with ordinary machine tools, but it requires sharp cutting edges for a clean finish. Resistance to Abrasion High Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is highly resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Worked fairly easily with hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring suggested before screwing Possible if prebored Material is liable to split Difficult to screw Turning Fair to Good Results The material responds well to most machining operations including turning Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Excellent results Staining Finish is generally good Very good staining properties Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Work to Maximum Load = low Toughness (total work) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8200 11655 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 890 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4767 7164 psi Shearing Strength 1527 psi Stiffness 1268 1463 1000 psi Toughness 95 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.44 Weight 35 27 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 576 819 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 403 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 335 503 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 107 kg/cm2 Stiffness 89 102 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 109 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.44 Weight 560 432 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % 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 Chalk, L., et al,1932,Some East African Coniferae and Leguminosae,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 1 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. Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1969. World Timbers, Volume One - Europe & Africa. Published by Ernest Benn Limited, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London. Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38 Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1959,Survey of Africa Woods 4,Tropical Woods 17(110) pp42-115 Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda 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 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya