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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 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 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.