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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
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Ocotea usambarensis

Trade Name
East African camphorwood

Family Name
Lauraceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Camphor, East African camphorwood, Ibean camphor, Kikenzi, Maasi, Mkulo, Mninga, Msasi, Mseri, Muheti, Munganga, Mutunguru, Muura, Muwong, Muzaiti, Muziti, Muzura, Mwiha, Ocotea

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Concrete formwork, Domestic flooring, Exterior uses, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Tables, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Status unknown due to inadequate information
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center


Distribution Overview
The species occurs predominantly in Kenya and Tanzania, and sparsely in Uganda. It grows in montane forests at elevations of 3000 to 9000 feet (915 to 2745 m).

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Pink
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Dark brown
Pale brown
Light reddish-brown to yellowish-brown
Greenish to greyish
Darkens after prolonged exposure


Sapwood Color
Yellow
Paler than heartwood
Same as heartwood
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Interlocked
Figure
Distinct (figure)
Straight
Even
Closed
Wavy
Stripe (figure)

Interlocked
Distinct figure
Straight
Wavy
Striped figure

Grain is typically interlocked, producing an attractive striped figure on quartersawn surfaces.

Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine to medium
Medium
Fine


Luster
Medium
Lustrous
Sometimes lustrous but not always


Natural Durability
Perishable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Very durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Non durable
Durable
Moderately durable
Heartwood susceptible to attack by termites
Heartwood susceptible to attack by marine borers
Heartwood has high natural resistance to decay

The sapwood is rarely attacked by powder-post beetles.

Odor
Wood has a characteristic camphor scent

The wood has a characteristic camphor scent and is not recommended for use in kitchen applications such as draining boards.

Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Toxicity
Respiratory effects
Dermatitic effects


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
UK=G US=T8B3/T5B1
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow
UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Drying (speed) is fast
T8-B3 (4/4); T5-B1 (8/4) US
Schedule G (4/4) United Kingdom


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion
Slight end splitting
Slight surface checking
No twisting or warping
No end splitting
Moderate spring/bow
Moderate cupping
May warp and twist during drying

The timber may warp and twist if conditions are not carefully controlled during air-seasoning.

Ease of Drying
Slowly
Easy
Difficult
May require additional care to minimize defects
Air dries and kiln dries slowly with minimal degrade


Radial = 2.5%
Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC
Tangential = 4.0%
Thicker dimension quartersawn stock require special attention, since it is very difficult to remove moisture from the center.

Kiln Drying Rate
Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
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 straight
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Some boles may be of very poor form.

Comments
Lumber Selection - Careful selection of straight-grained lumber is essential since some trees produce boles of very poor form. Timber from such trees contain twisted grain, which affects many wood properties and limits its uses. Although they often have rotten cores, selection of large logs has been recommended since they can produce boards with wider dimensions

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Slight dulling effect on cutting tools


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Satisfactory (60+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results)
Easy


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Low cutting resistance

Cutting resistance is low, and the timber responds satisfactorily to cross-cutting and narrow bandsawing.

Gluing
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mould
Special care recommended

A reduced cutting angled has been suggested for quartersawn material with interlocked grain to prevent tearing.

Movement in Service
Small
Stable

The wood is dimensionally stable, and holds its shape well after seasoning.

Nailing
Easy to nail
Fair nailing properties


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Special attention required
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane

East African cottonwood is generally easy to work with ordinary machine tools, but quartered material containing interlocked grain should be planed with a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees.

Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant
Sapwood is permeable
Sapwood is moderately resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to machine
Slight dulling effect on cutting edges
Responds well to hand tools
Difficult to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Routing yields good results
Routing is easy


Sanding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Satisfactory screwing properties
Easy to screw


Turning
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory response to turning
Good results
Difficult to turn


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
Suitable for slicing
Suitable for peeling


Steam Bending
Moderate

Steam bending qualities are inferior to those of some well known steam bending timbers such as Beech, Ash, and Oak. The wood may distort during bending and setting, and results are less than satisfactory in knotty material

Painting
Good results


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results
Polishes and finishes very well


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Stains well
Finish is generally good


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Volumetric = small
Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Max. crushing strength = low
Max. crushing strength = high
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = high

East African camphorwood is described as a medium-weight timber with extremely good strength-to-weight ratio and high durability. It is low in stiffness and resistance to shock loads, but has medium strength in crushing.

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength874413541psi
Density35lbs/ft3
Hardness938lbs
Impact Strength2527inches
Maximum Crushing Strength41536928psi
Shearing Strength1923psi
Stiffness129315371000 psi
Work to Maximum Load710inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.53
Weight3635lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage10%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength614952kg/cm2
Density560kg/m3
Hardness425kg
Impact Strength6368cm
Maximum Crushing Strength291487kg/cm2
Shearing Strength135kg/cm2
Stiffness901081000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.490.70cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.53
Weight576560kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

References
Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45

Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35

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

Bond, C.W.,1950,Colonial Timbers,Sir Issac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

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.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38

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.,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

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

Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department

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.

Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Lamb, G.N.,1951,Foreign Woods - Black Ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum, Banuyo,(Wallaceodendron celebicum, East African Camphor (Ocatea usambarensis,,Supa (Sindora supa) and Sepetir (Sindora Sp.,Wood and Wood Products 56(12) pp44-5

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 Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.

Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.

Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp.

Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38

Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1959,Survey of Africa Woods 4,Tropical Woods 17(110) pp42-115

Tack, C.H.,1953,Plywood and veneer species,Forest Department, Uganda. Technical Note 5/1953

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

Tanzania - Timber Marketing Co. Ltd.,1978,Timber from Tanzania

Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14

Tanzania Forest Department,1961,Utilisation Properties of Second Growth Camphor,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Technical Note,No.27

Tanzania Forest Department,1966,Flooring Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika

Tanzania Forest Division,1965,Ocotea usambarensis (E.African Camphorwood,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika

Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi

Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]

Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28

Titmuss, F.H. 1965. Commercial Timbers of the World. Third Edition (Enlarged of A Concise Encyclopedia of World Timbers). The Technical Press Ltd., London.

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya

Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13









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