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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 Comments Common Names Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate 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 Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Ocotea thouvenotii Trade Name Black varongy Family Name Lauraceae Common Names Black varongy, Varongy, Varongy noir Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Yellow Orange Brown White Red Pale brown Golden brown with a reddish cast Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White The sapwood is not indistinguishable from the heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Figure Wavy Stripe (figure) Wavy Striped figure Straight Radial surfaces usually exhibit a marked striped or ribbon figure Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Uniform Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Core is often decayed. Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Moderately durable Very durable Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to marine borers Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Odor Unpleasent aroma associated with freshly cut material Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Seasons well with little degrade Radially sawn stock dries more rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Comments Timber properties vary considerably with density Blunting Effect Little Moderate Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy The material is suitable for carving Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Low cutting resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Satisfactory moulding Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Holds nails well Good nailing characteristics Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Machining properties vary with density Machining properties are reported to vary with density, but the soft and light timber generally planes readily with hand and machine tools. Striped material requires considerable sanding after planing to obtain a uniform, smooth finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Poor response to preservative treatment The timber is rather difficult to impregnate with preservatives. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Softer and lighter wood responds readily to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly good sanding characteristics Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly easy turning, boring, mortising and other machining operations Turning, boring, moulding, mortising, and other machining properties are reported to vary Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Maximum crushing strength, or compression strength parallel to grain, is high. Some familiar species with high crushing strength parallel to grain include Hard maple, Teak, and White oak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7350 11270 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 3675 6566 psi Shearing Strength 1666 psi Stiffness 1294 1519 1000 psi Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 516 792 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 258 461 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 117 kg/cm2 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