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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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Parinari goetzeniana Trade Name Nganga Family Name Chrysobalanaceae Common Names Nganga Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] South Africa Common Uses Agricultural implements, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Poles, Railroad ties Heartwood Color Brown Purple Green/grey Black Red Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Pink White to yellow Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Fine Medium Coarse Coarse Luster Medium Low High Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Silica Content Severe Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Resin Exudation Checking Slight twist/warp Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting Slight cupping Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Variable Gum Exudation Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Very slow Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bark width is 10-15 mm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Substitutes Essang has been suggested as a potential substitute for Poplar (Populus) Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gum-Up Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1721 psi Stiffness 1460 1686 1000 psi Weight 56 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 121 kg/cm2 Stiffness 102 118 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 897 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % 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 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 Bryce, J. and Kitambi, G.,1960,The Air-drying Properties of some Tanganyika Timbers Technical Note No 23,Tanganyika Forest Department Utilisation Division Technical Note Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. 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