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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 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 Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Lovoa klaineana Trade Name African walnut Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Lovoa angulata, Lovoa brownii, Lovoa corbisieriana, Lovoa klaineana, Lovoa leplaenana, Lovoa mildbraedii, Lovoa pynaertii Common Names Acajour noir, African walnut, Akoko igbo, Akwantanuro, Alona wood, Alonawood, Anamamula, Apetou, Apopo, Benin walnut, Bombolu, Boyo kandi, Brown mahogany, Congo wood, Congowood, Dibeton, Dibetou, Dilolo fiote, Dominguila, Dubini-bi, Dubini-biri, Dubinibiri, Epope, Eyan, Fuga, Ghana walnut, Golden walnut, Ipaki moindu, Kou-tue, Kwantannuro, Kwatanuro, Kwo, Lahutreble, Lifaki pembe, Lovoa wood, Lovoawood, M'bolo, Mbera, Moutchibanafe, Mpengua, Mukusu, N'zima, Nigerian golden walnut, Nigerian walnut, Noyer d'Afrique, Noyer de Gabon, Nvero, Ombolo, Pedua, Penkua, Pepedom, Perek, Pereko, Pereton, Rubini-biri, Sida, Te, Temamire, Tiger wood, Tigerwood, Timabiri, Urhearike, Voka voka, wesumei, Wombolu, Wosimei Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Decorative veneer, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Gunstocks, Heavy construction, Inlay work, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Little or no threat to its environment Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview African walnut occurs in the deciduous and evergreen forests of tropical West Africa. It grows from Sierra Leone to Gabon, tends to be gregarious, and prefers moist sites. It is still available fairly abundantly in Ghana. Heartwood Color Brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown The heartwood is a bronze shade of yellowish brown and is sometimes marked with dark streaks or veins. Dark gum lines are typical, and add to the attractive appearance of the timber. The color and superficial appearance of the wood is reported to bear a strong resemblance to Walnut (Juglans) Sapwood Color Paler than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood White to yellow Different than heartwood Pinkish Color not distinct from heartwood The sapwood is narrow, up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide. It is often well-differentiated from the heartwood, and is buff or pale brown in color. A narrow transition zone is occasionally present between the sapwood and heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Rippled (figure) Even Ribbon (figure) Straight Growth rings (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Rippled figure With distinct light and dark bands Stripe figure on quartersawn surfaces Straight occasionally Ribbon figure Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Medium Fine Uniform Coarse Luster Lustrous The wood is highly lustrous, almost sparkling Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Susceptible to marine borer attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Non durable The heartwood is moderately resistant to decay, but is susceptible to attack by dry wood termites. The sapwood is readily attacked by powder-post beetles Odor No distinct taste A scent similar to that in the cedars is present Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Moderate end spitting Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Shakes may become extended No twisting or warping Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Slowly Easy Dries at a rapid rate Air dries and kiln dries slowly with minimal degrade Radial = 2.0% Shrinkage from Green to 12% Tangential = 5.0% 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 cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size The tree is reported to grow to a height of about 150 feet (45 m), with a trunk diameter of about 48 inches (1.2 m) above a short buttress. The bole is straight, cylindrical and tall, up to a maximum of 90 feet (27 m) to the lowest branch, with an average of about 75 feet (23 m) Product Sources Although reports indicate that the species is environmentally secure and is unthreatened, it is unknown whether lumber and other wood products from the species are obtainable from environmentally responsible sources. The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber. Export rate is given as frequent. Material entering the British market is usually in the form of short logs which often contain bore holes from attack by insects Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight The timber is reported to dull cutting edges slightly Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Sharp cutting edges are recommended while boring in order to maintain a good finish in end-grain material Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cross cutting is easy, with only slight tearing on bottom and back edges. The timber is reported to cut cleany with the grain in band sawing, but bottom edges may tear out when working against the grain. Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing propeties Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds well to mortising. Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Small The wood has good dimensional stability after seasoning, and exhibits only small movement in use. Nailing Easy to nail Tends to split during nailing Large-Sized stock holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish Interlocked grain tends to affect most machining properties, but the wood works fairly easily, with very little waste during conversion. Planing is satisfactory, but a reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has been recommended to prevent tearing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Permeable Heartwood is permeable The heartwood is very difficult to treat with preservatives, and the sapwood can be treated with moderate difficulty Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Little dulling of cutting edges Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds satisfactorily to recessing operations The material requires very sharp cutting edges for best results Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Easy to screw Screwing and screw-holding qualities are rated as good, but the wood may split Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Turning properties are good, but it requires very sharp cutting edges for smooth surfaces Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting The timber is reported to slice into very attractive face veneers for plywood and decorative veneers for paneling, cabinets, and marquetry Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Polishing results are excellent after filling Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Satisfactory staining properties Finish is generally good Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Strength properties are about half-way between Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon ) and European beech (Fagus). The timber is of medium weight, has a pleasing look, and has moderate resistance to decay. Air-dry bending strength is moderate, crushing strength is in the high range. It is fairly hard, and density is high. It is used in the automobile industry for window and door trims Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7479 11270 psi Density 33 lbs/ft3 Hardness 939 lbs Impact Strength 30 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3817 6264 psi Shearing Strength 1131 psi Stiffness 1094 1337 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.41 Weight 33 32 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 525 792 kg/cm2 Density 528 kg/m3 Hardness 425 kg Impact Strength 76 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 268 440 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 79 kg/cm2 Stiffness 76 94 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.41 Weight 528 512 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1948,Dibetou (Lovoa triclisioides and Lovoa klaineana,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.5, pp41-44 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1978,Dibetou (Lovoa spp.,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.179,pp47-59 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 Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Bond, C.W.,1950,Colonial Timbers,Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chalk, L.,1933,Twenty West African Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 2 Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant, and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Eggeling, W.J., Harris, C.M.,1939,Fifteen Uganda Timbers,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire, Imperial Forestry,Institute, Oxford,Part 4 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO 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 Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76 Fougerousse, M., Deschamps, P.,1968,Essais de Resistance de quelques Bois Tropicaux aux Xylophages Marins dans,la,Port de la Pallice,C.T.F.T. Note Technique,No.7 France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France France - C.T.F.T., No.277, Maiul - Symphonia globulifera,C.T.F.T. Information Tec. France - C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des observations et des essais effectues au CTFT sur le Bete,C.T.F.T. Information Technique, No.64 France - C.T.F.T.,1961,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au CTFT sur Dibetou,C.T.F.T. Information Technique,No.113 France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12 France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board Gutierrez Oliva, A., Plaza Pulgar, F.,1967,Caracteristicas fisico-mecanicas de las maderas Espanolas. (Physical and,mechanical properties of Spanish timbers.,Min.Agric./Dir.Gen Montes/Instituto Forestral de Investigaciones,y,Experiencias, Madrid pp102 Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32 Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125 Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3 Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Product