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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 Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Khaya anthotheca Trade Name African mahogany Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Khaya agboensis, Khaya euryphylla, Khaya mildbraedii, Khaya wildemannii Common Names Acajou blanc, Acajou d'Afrique, Acajou krala, Acajou mangora, African mahogany, Ahafo, Ahafo mahogany, Ahafo timber, Akwantannuro, Anthotheca, Arwabotioro, Benin mahogany, Benin wood, Bie-eh-nasa, Diala, Dubini, Dukuma fufu, Dukuma-fufu, Funfun, Ghana mahogany, Grand Bassam mahogany, Heavy African mahogany, Ivory Coast mahogany, Khaya, Khaya mahogany, Kirumbo, Krala, Kruba, Krumben, Kwabaho, Kwabohori, Kwabohoro, Kwantannuro, Lagos wood, Lpaki, Lra, Mangona, Mpohe, Munyama, Ngollon, Nigerian mahogany, Odupon, Ogigedu, Ogwango, Ogwango nofuwa, Red mahogany, Smooth barked African mahogany, Uganda mahogany, White mahogany Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Decorative veneer, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Endangered Secure in many areas of its range Little threat to its survival, at least in the immediate future Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The species occurs in lowland evergreen forest. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Orange Pink Purple Pale red to pink Reddish brown Turn reddish brown upon exposure Pink Pale brown Brown It usually lacks the yellowish-brown color that is common in the paler shades of American mahogany (Swietenia). Sapwood Color Yellow White Very fine Distinct (figure) White to yellow Pinkish Paler than heartwood Well defined Color not distinct from heartwood It is usually about 2 inches (5 cm) wide and is not always clearly differentiated from the heartwood. Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Straight Wavy Even Very fine Closed Stripe (figure) Roey (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Straight Wavy Striped figure Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Roey figure Some logs produce attractively figured timber highly suitable for decorative applications. Texture Coarse Medium Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fine Variable Fine to medium Luster Medium Low Natural luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Moderately durable Perishable Moderately durable Susceptible 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 Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Heartwood susceptible to termite attack Heartwood moderately resistant to decay Durable Standing trees and logs are also vulnerable to attack by forest longhorn or Buprestid beetles. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Sawdust from machining operations can cause skin irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting No end splitting Tension wood, which is sometimes present, may cause the timber to distort severely during drying. Shrinkage is relatively small in wood without tension wood. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Variable Rapidly Slowly Easy Variable results. Seasons rapidly with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Slow Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Drying rate is slow 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 Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 30-40 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Tree height is 60-70 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Relatively well-formed boles over buttresses that may be 9 feet (2.7 m) high Product Sources This species is usually marketed together with other very similar Khaya species as African mahogany. They are readily available in a wide range of sizes at a moderate price. The material is also obtainable in the form of plywood from many suppliers. About 18500 cubic feet (500 cubic met.) per week supply of Khaya anthotheca is available from sustainably managed sources in Africa. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) is similar in appearance and is nearly as tough. Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) has superiod strength properties. African canarium (Canarium schweinfurthii) is extremely similar in appearance once it is stained. Comments Abnormal Growth Defects - Brittleheart is present in some logs, producing compression failures in the form of thunder shakes, cross-breaks, heart-breaks, etc. The defect is more prevalent in figured logs. Logs may also contain abnormal wood tissue in the form of tension wood. African mahogany is described as a timber with medium density and a pleasing appearance. It has good machining qualities and high dimensional stability, and is highly favored in the furniture industry for a wide variety of applications. It is also used for boat building, and is suitable for almost all parts of boats. The timber is suitable for almost all applications where a good quality, medium weight hardwood is required. General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Moderate effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Easy Boring, turning, mortising, and other machining operations are reported to vary, but are generally satisfactory, except in woolly material and those containing interlocked grain. Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cross-Cutting and narrow bandsawing are satisfactory Gluing Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finishes satisfactorily Difficult to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to mould Square block is reported to produce considerable tearing, and French head is not recommended for wooly material. Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Shows only small movement after manufacture Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Material containing interlocked grain requires a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees to prevent tearing. Machining properties are reported to vary, and is mainly dependent upon wooliness and interlocked grain. Sharp thin-edged cutters are recommended for best results. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Heartwood is resistant