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Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance 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 Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Khaya spp. Trade Name Acajou Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Acajou, Afana, African mahogany, Appapyayi, Apurro, Benin mahogany, Big leaf mahogany, Dubini, Geduloha, Khaya, Krubua, Munyama, Odubin, Odupon, Okunmankra, Orro, Tacamaca rouge, Tiama tiama, Tiame tiame Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Musical instruments, Paneling, Plywood, Sporting Goods, Tables, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Yellow Purple Green/grey Grey Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Pink Grain Distinct (figure) Interlocked Figure Even Straight Very fine Weak (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Straight Weak figure Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Texture Medium Coarse Fine Coarse Luster Medium High Low Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Perishable Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules K=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Very slow Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 0-10 m Bark width is greather than 50 mm Bark width is 5-10 mm Bole length is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Small Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Variable qualities Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8244 12907 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 618 lbs Impact Strength 20 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4026 6494 psi Shearing Strength 1883 psi Stiffness 1273 1475 1000 psi Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 579 907 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 280 kg Impact Strength 50 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 283 456 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 132 kg/cm2 Stiffness 89 103 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Arkwright, P.,1957,Know your Timbers No.36 African Mahogany (Khaya spp.,Woodworking Industry,14(1, p39 Bond, C.W.,1950,Colonial Timbers,Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1955,Kiln-Drying Schedules,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Leaflet,No.42 Greenway, P.J.,1947,Mahogany in East Africa 1 The Khayas,East African Agricultural Journal,13,pp8-14,[East African Agricultural,and Forestry Journal] Heck, G.E.,1937,Strength and related Properties of five foreign woods,F.P.L. Madison Rep., No.R1139 Lamb, G.N.,1948,The Mahogany Book (7th Ed.,Mahogany Association Inc., Chicago. Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 U.K. - Colonial Forest Resources Development Department,1939,British Colonial Timbers - Woods recommended for Various Uses,Colonial Forest Resources Development Department,London U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1952,Foreign Woods Imported into the U.S.,F.P.L. Madison Rep., No. R1903-12 Uganda Forest Department,1954,Flooring Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.17 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13