Wood inspector

Family:

Common names: Mkungusa, Mlanje Cedar, Mlanje Cypress

Distributed in: Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe (Africa)

Distribution overview: Described as a bush or a small tree, and occurs in South Africa, from the southwest Cape, east and northwards through Natal to the Soutpansberg in the northern Transvaal, up to an elevation of 8500 feet (2490 m). It is rather common along gullies and steep slopes on grassy mountain sides at Giant's Castle Cathedral Peak in Natal.

Common uses: Balusters, Building construction, Building materials, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Pencil, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables

Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed

Tree size: Tree height is 20-30 m

Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMediumand the lusterMedium

Natural durability: Resistant to powder post beetles, Susceptible to insect attack

Odor: No characteristic taste Cedar-Like odor

Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries quickly

Drying Defects: Distortion, Splitting

Ease of Drying: Rapidly

Blunting Effect: Blunting effect on machining is slight

Boring: Fairly easy to very easy

Carving: Good results

Cutting Resistance: Saws readily although it is hard and tough

Gluing: Satisfactory gluing properties

Mortising: Yields clean and smooth surfaces

Moulding: Good finishing

Movement in Service: Good finishing

Nailing: Good nailing properties

Planing: good

Response to hand tools: Responds well

Routing recessing: Responds well to routing operations

Sanding: Yields smooth, clean surfaces

Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Good screwing properties; Turning: Yields smooth, clean surface.

Painting: Does not take paint well because of its oily nature ; Polishing: Polishes to a lustrous shine ; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Interlocked slightly to moderately ;