Wood inspector

Family: Bombacaceae

Common names: Alone, Bombax, Condrotti, Kondroti, Meguza, Mfume, Munguza, N'demo

Distributed in: Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo (Africa)

Distribution overview: West Africa, extending into Tanzania in Central Africa. Generally found in savannah secondary forests and dense rain forests.

Common uses: Blockboard, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Cutting surfaces, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Trimming, Utility furniture, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes

Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed

Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm

Colors: the heart isRed, Yellowish brownand the sapwoodWhitish, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterMedium

Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very little natural resistance

Odor: No specific odor

Kiln Schedules: UK=E (4/4)

Kiln Drying Rate: Slow

Drying Defects: Moderate cupping, Splitting

Ease of Drying: Thick Stock Requires Care

Blunting Effect: Moderate

Boring: Use very sharp cutting edges to prevent grain from tearing

Carving: Good if cutting edges are sharp

Cutting Resistance: Moderate to saw

Gluing: Very good properties

Mortising: Very Good to Excellent

Moulding: Poor to Very Poor

Movement in Service: Poor to Very Poor

Nailing: Poor to Very Poor , Pre-Boring Recommended

Planing: Very Good to Excellent

Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable

Response to hand tools: Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges

Routing recessing: Poor to Very Poor Results

Sanding: Very Good to Excellent Results

Steam bending: Unsuitable

Screwing: Good screwing properties, Holds screws well; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results

Painting: Little or no surface prep required ; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Stains well; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;