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Blunting Effect
Boring
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
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Podocarpus ensiculus

Trade Name
African podocarpus

Family Name
Podocarpaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
African podocarpus, Mse-mghoshi, Mse-mwanamume, Podo, Yellowwood

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Tanzania

Common Uses
Beehives, Boxes and crates, Concrete formwork, Food containers, Furniture, Plywood, Railroad ties

Heartwood Color
Red
Brown
Purple
Pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown


Grain
Straight
Even

Straight


Texture
Fine
Medium
Fine


Luster
Low


Natural Durability
Durable
Resistant to marine borers
Moderately durable
Perishable
Non-durable
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Perishable


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1
Dry at a moderate speed


Drying Defects
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Moderate


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries slowly


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 50-60 m
Bole length is 0-10 m
Sapwood width is 15-20 cm
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm
Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm


Blunting Effect
Little
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Moderately easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Moderate gluing properties
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to mortise
Interlocked slightly to moderately
Finishes satisfactorily


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Good finishing results
Easy to mould
Interlocked slightly to moderately


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Small
Medium


Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Holds nails well


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Poor
Satisfactory


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory routing results
Moderately easy


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Screwing yields good results


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Good results
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Suitable for peeling
Easy to cut


Steam Bending
Moderate


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Good results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Finish is generally good


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Work to Maximum Load
Toughness (total work) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Max. crushing strength = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61119589psi
Density32lbs/ft3
Hardness657lbs
Impact Strength28inches
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength1221psi
Stiffness101711991000 psi
Toughness95inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load710inch-lbs/in3
Weight3125lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429674kg/cm2
Density512kg/m3
Hardness298kg
Impact Strength71cm
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength85kg/cm2
Stiffness71841000 kg/cm2
Toughness109cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.490.70cm-kg/cm3
Weight496400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

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

Bryce, J.M., Norcross, H.,1961,The Resistance of Tanganyika Timbers to Impregnation,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec .Tech. Note,No.28

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

Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London

Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO

Rijsdijk, L.F. and Laming, P.B.,1994,Physical and Related Properties of 145 Timbers, Information for,Practice,TNO Building and Construction Research Centre for Timber Research Kluwer,Academic Publishers

Tack, C.H.,1958,The Strength Properties of some Uganda Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Bulletin No. 5

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

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