Wood inspector

Family: Lauraceae

Common names: Akok, Bisslongo, Biteki, Bonzale, Kanda, Mfimbo, Nkonengu, Pogo

Distributed in: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zaire (Africa)

Distribution overview: West and Central Africa.

Common uses: Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Utility furniture, Veneer, Wardrobes

Product sources: The tree is seldom harvested for timber because it is highly valued for its flowers and fruits.

Environment profile: Very little threat to its natural environment.

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm

Colors: the heart isPurple, Redand the sapwoodWhite, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMediumand the lusterLow

Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable

Odor: No odor, generally.

Silica Content: Likely to have significant impact on machining

Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly

Drying Defects: Slight tendency to check, Splitting

Ease of Drying: Slowly

Comments: Represented under a general description

Blunting Effect: Tungsten tipped cutters may be needed to process wood

Boring: Fair to good results

Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw

Gluing: Good properties

Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Moulding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Movement in Service: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Nailing: Holds nails well, Pre-Boring Recommended

Planing: Requires specially tipped cutters

Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood reponds well to preservation treatment

Response to hand tools: Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work

Routing recessing: Fair to Good Results

Sanding: Good sanding finish

Veneering qualities: Suitable for peeling, Suitable for slicing

Steam bending: Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Screwing: Pre-boring recommended ; Turning: Requires specially tipped cutters

Painting: Good; Polishing: Good; Staining: Fairly Easy to Very Easy; Varnishing: Good;