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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. Blunting Effect 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 Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Khaya ivorensis Trade Name African mahogany Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Acajou bassam, Acajou blanc, Acajou d'Afrique, Acajou rouge, African mahogany, Akuk, Bandoro, Bariba, Benin mahogany, Biribi, Biribu, Bisselon, Bitehi, Diala iri, Diburi, Dubini, Dukuma, Dukuma fufu, Dukuma-dugura, Dukumakokre, Dupuin, Ekuie, Eri Kiree, Houngo, Humpe, Khaya, Khaya mahogany, Kortghot, Krala, Krubna, Lokobua, Lukuma, Munyama, Ngollo, Ngollon, Oduben, Odupod, Odupon, Ogurango, Ogurano, Ogwango, Orkogho, Red mahogany, Samanguila, Senegal mahogany, Tiamatiama, Zoele Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, 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, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Musical instruments, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Unknown because of lack of information Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Occurs in Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Zaire. In Ghana, this species occurs in many habitat types but seems to thrive best in moist and wet undisturbed evergreen forest. It is found scattered across almost the whole of Congo and is occasionally quite abundant. Heartwood Color Red Yellow Purple Brown Green/grey Pink Orange Pale red to pink Reddish brown Dark brown Red Pale brown Brown Turn reddish brown upon exposure Pink-Brown The yellowish-brown color that is present in the paler shades of American mahoganies is very rare. Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Paler than heartwood Well defined Pinkish Creamy-White or yellowish Not always distinct from the heartwood. It is usually about 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Straight Stripe (figure) Very fine Closed Even Growth rings (figure) Rays (figure) Rippled (figure) Roey (figure) Wavy Interlocked Distinct figure Straight Striped figure Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Wavy Roey figure Rippled figure Rays figure Clear growth rings (figure) Swirl and crotch figures are also common. Texture Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Fine Variable Luster Medium Lustrous High Golden luster Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Perishable Non-durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Heartwood moderately resistant to decay Resistant to termite attack in West Africa Trees and logs are vulnerable to attack by forest longhorn and Buprestid beetles. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Unspecified toxicity Non-toxic Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Slight surface checking No surface checking No end splitting No twisting or warping Moderate twist/warp Radial - 2.5% Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC Strongly developed tension wood may cause excessive distortion during drying. Tangential - 4.5% Ease of Drying Easy Variable results. The timber dries at a fairly rapid rate with little degrade, except when tension wood is present 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 0-10 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Develops straight, well-formed boles that measure about 40 to 80 feet (12 to 24 m) above strong buttresses that are up to 8 feet (2.5 m) high Product Sources Although the species makes up most of the African mahogany on the international market, it is usually sold in a mixture with other Khaya species including K. anthotheca , K. grandifoliola , and K. senegalensis . Origin of consignment can sometimes help identify specific Khaya species. This may be valuable since differences in some properties can be appreciable. Supplies in the lumber form are quite abundant, and can be found in a wide range of sizes at moderate prices. They are also available in plywood form from many lumber suppliers. African mahogany is frequently used to replace American mahogany because it is cheaper and more abundant, and can also be used for the same applications. 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 General finishing qualities are rated as good Some logs may have brittleheart which can cause thundershakes, or cross-breaks, or heart-breaks. The defect is more common in figured logs. Tension Wood - Abnormal wood tissue in the form of tension wood and brittleheart is sometimes present. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Moderate effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cross-Cutting and narrow bandsawing are satisfactory Gluing Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Moderate gluing properties Mortising Difficult to mortise Moulding Difficult to mould Square block is reported to cause the most tearing and French head is not recommended for woolly stock. Movement in Service Small Shows only small movement after manufacture Retains shape well after seasoning Nailing Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Possible if prebored Holds nails well Non-Ferrous or coated fastenings have been recommended to prevent dark stains on the wood since it reacts with iron under damp conditions. Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Machining properties are affected by interlocked grain and by the woolly nature of the stock being worked. A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees has been recommended in planing to prevent grain from tearing. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Variable qualities Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Heavily interlocked material is difficult to surface without tearing Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Possible if prebored Turning Turning and other woodworking operations such as mortising, boring, and sanding are all satisfactory, except in woolly material Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Very poor The wood is not recommended for steam bending applications since it buckles severely. A supporting strap is reported to give no advantage. Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Good staining properties Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Work to Maximum Load = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density = high Crushing strength = medium Moderate properties in hardness and weight Strength properties of K. ivorensis are halfway between those of Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon ) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica ). Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7464 11257 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 826 lbs Impact Strength 25 21 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3786 6384 psi Shearing Strength 1546 psi Stiffness 1169 1386 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load