Rhodesian teak (Baikiaea plurijuga)
Family: Leguminosae
Common names: Gusi, Igusi, Ikusi, Mkusi, Mukushi, Mukusi, Redwood, Rhodesian redwood, Rhodesian teak, Umgusi, Umgusu, Umguzi, Umguzu, Umkuswi, Umpapa, Zambesi redwood, Zambesian redwood
Distributed in: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe (Africa)
Distribution overview: This species occurs in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is confined to lowland tropical forest on the Kalahari sands. Baikiaea plurijuga is the dominant component of the Baikiaea forest canopy. Baikiaea forest is the most extensive deciduous forest on the Kalahari Sand in the south of the Upper Zambezi basin and B. plurijuga is essentially limited to this area. In Zimbabwe, B. plurijuga is found in higher areas of thicket on Kalahari sands of the Lupane and Nkayi districts and in higher areas of woodland thicket on colluvium in the Binga district.
Common uses: Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Product sources: The ITTO reports that an important source of timber. The timber is exported in low quantities.Tatajuba is exported from Brazil into Italy, Germany, Holland, and England.
Environment profile: Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Reddish-Brown, sometimes marked with irregular dark brown or black lines or flecks and the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMediumand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=D US=T3D2/T3C1
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Easy to dry
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good Under moist conditions, tannin may react with iron and iron compounds that come in contact with the wood to cause discoloration
Blunting Effect: Severe blunting effect on cutting tools due to high silica content
Boring: Prone to charring in many machining operations
Cutting Resistance: Specially-Tipped saws are recommended
Gluing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Good finishing
Movement in Service: Good finishing
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Very poor nailing properties
Planing: Tendency for wood to ride on cutters if material is not held firmly
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is moderately resistant
Response to hand tools: Difficult to machine
Veneering qualities: Diifficult to veneer, No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Steam bending: Occasional small knots and a tendency for the wood to buckle make it unsuitable for steam bending
Screwing: Screwing yields good results
; Turning: Good results
Painting: Takes paint well ; Polishing: Good; Staining: Stains well; Varnishing: Good varnishing properties ;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,64 |
|
|
Density |
|
897 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
519 |
844 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
450 |
672 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
1358 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
155 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
80 |
91 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
881 |
881 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 7391 | 12008 | psi | Density | | 56 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 2995 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 6401 | 9572 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2205 | psi | Stiffness | 1147 | 1300 | 1000 psi | Specific Gravity | 0.64 | | | Weight | 55 | 55 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft 0 Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Very high density Very heavy Very hard Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high
The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. It is stronger than Hard maple, White oak, or Teak. may require special tools to process
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