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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. Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Manilkara lacera Trade Name Aboga Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Mimusops lacera Common Names Aboga, Adzacon, African pearwood, Aganokpe, Agarokuri, Basipi, Berekankun, Boudinga linga, Esui, Fou, Kpangkun, Ngore, Nokena, Nwele, Oshere Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Carvings, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Handles: woodworking tools, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Distribution Overview Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indomalesia, and Pacific Islands. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Purple Reddish brown Red Pale brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Yellow White Pink Paler than heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Coarse Medium Fine Luster Medium High Natural Durability Durable Non-durable Perishable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Sanding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Bending strength (MOR) = very high Max. crushing strength = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 17175 24865 psi Density 58 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2732 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8781 12131 psi Shearing Strength 3185 psi Stiffness 2373 2752 1000 psi Weight 57 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1207 1748 kg/cm2 Density 929 kg/m3 Hardness 1239 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 617 852 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 223 kg/cm2 Stiffness 166 193 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 913 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % 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 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. 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