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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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Olea hochstetteri Trade Name East African olive Family Name Oleaceae Synonyms Olea hochstetteri Common Names Black ironwood, East African olive, Ironwood, Ironwood olive, Kiptakeriondu, Masaieta, Murakoiwa, Musat, Musharagi, Musharangi, Musherage, Musheragi, Muthat, Ngiwe, Ngwe, Ol-toliondo, Olive, Olmasi Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Axles, Bearings & bushings, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Brush backs & handles, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Sculpture, Shipbuilding, Specialty items, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Vulnerable in Uganda and the Ivory coast Distribution Overview The species is reported be found in montane rain forests at altitudes of 6000 to 9000 feet (1830 to 2745 m). They are common in Kenya and parts of Zaire, but are less frequently found in Uganda and Tanzania Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Green/grey Orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Black Occasional dark streaks Occasional brown streaks Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Pale yellow Different than heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Distinct (figure) Figure Closed Even Wavy Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Wavy Texture Fine Coarse Medium Even or uniform Uniform Fine Medium coarse to coarse Even textured Luster Low High Medium Dull Natural Durability Durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Moderately durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Perishable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Heartwood susceptible to attack by termites Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi The heartwood has little natural resistance to decay fungi, and is susceptible to attack by termites and white ants (Isoptera). Odor No specific smell or taste Resin Content Contains resin The wood contains resin which is usually secreted during steaming Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E; United Kingdom Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Severe surface checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe cupping Severe end splitting Slight end splitting Severe twisting/warping Rapid drying may cause honeycombing Moderate twist/warp Expect splits Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Dry slowly and carefully to minimize degrade Radial - 4.0% Shrinkage Values (Green to 12% MC) Tangential - 6.5% Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm It develops boles that are seldom straight and heavily fluted Product Sources Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Medium blunting effect on tools Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Difficult The slightly interlocked grain is reported to affect boring properties. The wood generally responds well to machine tools to yield smooth, clean surfaces Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Seasoned wood is less difficult to convert than green wood. Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Material mortises well Interlocked grain effects mortising Good response to ordinary machine tools Wood containing interlocked grain is more difficult to work Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Good finishing results The timber has a tendency to chatter in moulding operations. A French head and collars are most suitable for moulding the wood Movement in Service Large Not stable/prone to move Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Pre-boring recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Special attention required Interlocked grain makes wood fairly difficult to plane A 20 degree planing angle and increased load on pressure bars and shoes is recommended to avoid vibration Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Resistance to Splitting Very Poor Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Variable qualities Somewhat difficult to work with hand tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Routs to yield clean surfaces Material containing interlocked grain may be difficult to work Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Straight grained material sands quite easily Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Excellent Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Steam Bending Moderate