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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 Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Turning Scientific Name Ocotea bullata Trade Name Black stinkwood Family Name Lauraceae Synonyms Oreodaphne bullata, Laurus bullata Common Names Black stinkwood, Cape laurel, Ocotea d'Afrique, Stinkwood, Um nukane Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] South Africa Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wheels Heartwood Color Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Black Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Sapwood Color Brown Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Variable (figure) Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Distinct and very fine figure Variable figure Weak figure Striped figure Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Fine Luster Lustrous Pronounced Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Odor Has an odor Toxicity Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Severe collapse and honeycomb Moderate surface checking Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Blunting Effect Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Variable qualities Difficult to machine Sanding Fair to Good Results Good sanding finish Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 44 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 43 34 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 705 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 689 544 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % 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] Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75 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 Chalk, L. et al.,1935,Fifteen South African High Forest Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire, Imperial Forestry,Institute, Oxford,Part 3 Kain, D.N.E.,1945,Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata,Wood,10(8,pp202-3 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3 Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1959,Survey of Africa Woods 4,Tropical Woods 17(110) pp42-115 Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford 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 Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13