African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
Family: Ebenaceae
Common names: African ebony, Alom, Bergem, Bugao, Burgum, Dabakala sunsu, Donko, Doue, Ebenier, Ebony, Ferdamu, Ga, Gawelle, Ginga, Gughan, Igi dudu, Jakkalsbessie, Jeti, Jukhan, Kaiwa, Kanya, Karan, Keke, Keyi keyi, Kukuo, Kukuwo, Legabol, Matoomba, Monkey guava, Muchenja, Muchenje, Mukuchumswa, Nangalo, Nelberi, Obiudu, Okusibiri, Onye-koji, Sunsu, Sunsun, Swamp ebony, West African ebony, White ebony, Yeti, Zanzibar ebony
Distributed in: Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda (Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Common uses: Boat building (general), Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Golf club heads, Handles: general, Musical instruments: percussion, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, White to creamand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureFineand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Boring: Fairly difficult to very difficult
Carving: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Mortising: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Moulding: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Movement in Service: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Nailing: Holds nails well, Possible if prebored
Planing: Poor to Very Poor
Resistance to Impregnation: Permeable sapwood
Resistance to Splitting: Very Poor
Response to hand tools: Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Routing recessing: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Sanding: Very Good to Excellent Results
Veneering qualities: No drying degrade, Suitable for peeling
Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
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|
|
Density |
|
801 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
673 |
1048 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
380 |
574 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
|
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
109 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
83 |
97 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
|
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
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% |
Weight |
785 |
673 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,84 |
1,19 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
418 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
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kg/cm2 |
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| | | | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 9577 | 14919 | psi | Density | | 50 | lbs/ft3 | Maximum Crushing Strength | 5408 | 8171 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1560 | psi | Stiffness | 1188 | 1383 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 363 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 12 | 17 | inch-lbs/in3 | Weight | 49 | 42 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Work to Maximum Load = medium Toughness (total work) = high Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building ResearchDalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the ColoniesGotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und HolzwirtschaftIrvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. LondonLavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.Nigeria Department of Forest Research,1967,The Properties of Some Savanna Timber Trees,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Report, No.11Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi
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