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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
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
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Podocarpus usambarensis

Trade Name
African podocarpus

Family Name
Podocarpaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
African podocarpus, Mse-mchunga, Mse-mvyee, Mse-mwanamke, Muse neneli, Musenenezi, Muzizimo, Nuki, Podo, Yellowwood

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Tanzania, Uganda

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

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Extinct
Abundant/Secure
Rare
Endangered


Heartwood Color
Red
Brown
Pink
Purple
Green/grey
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
White to cream


Sapwood Color
White
Pink
Yellow
Red
Brown
Same as heartwood


Grain
Straight
Even

Straight


Texture
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Fine


Luster
Low
Medium
Dull


Natural Durability
Moderately durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-durable
Durable
Non-resistant to marine borers
Non-resistant to termites
Perishable
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Perishable


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


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


Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Collapse
Splitting
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate surface checking
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Fairly Easy
Thick Stock Requires Care
Slowly
Requires special attention
Easy
Moderate


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast
Naturally dries slowly
Naturally dries at a moderate speed


Tree Size
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bark width is 5-10 mm
Tree height is 10-20 m


Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Little
Moderate
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results
Moderately easy


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Moderate to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Moderate gluing properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finishes satisfactorily
Moderately easy to mortise
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good finishing results
Moulding ease is moderate
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Medium
Small


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


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


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


Resistance to Splitting
Poor
Satisfactory


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities


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


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very 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
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good results
Easy to turn
Finish is generally satisfactory


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers moderately easy
Difficult to veneer
Veneers easily
No drying degrade
Suitable for peeling
Easy to cut


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moderate


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Finish is generally satisfactory
Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining


Varnishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Satisfactory


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

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

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

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

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

Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43

Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30

T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.85 Alerce (Fitzroya cuppressiodes,TRADA Timber Leaflet

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









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