Scientific Name
Zanthoxylum gillettii
Trade Name
African satinwood
Family Name
Rutaceae
Synonyms
Zanthoxylum macrophyllum, Fagara macrophylla
Common Names
African satinwood, Ahenkyen, Ainyan, Ainyere, Ata, Ata igbo, Atagbo, Atta, Bahe, Berebuno, Bo-sue, Bongo, Dedani, Diongo katoke, East African satinwood, Ehengyeny, Ehine die, Ehyerenkyen, Evongo, Eyeyongo, Fuwi, Gbahe, Gmon, Hanwego, Honwogo, Kalomassumu, Kengue, Kimpanga, Kitutube, Lisumba, Longue, Mafu, Mbahe, Menehane, Muchagasa, Muhono, Mulemankobe, Mungutesende, Munyenye, Mutatembwa, Ntalyerungu, Nungo, Nyakabonde, Oberee, Okankan, Okor, Okoro, Okuo, Okuo oberee, Olon, Olon dur, Olondu, Olonvogo, Omushaga, Oyea, Sagawat, Sagawatiet, Sagawoita, Sagli, Sahlu, Shikhuma, Shongamabele, Shukuma, Su-welui, Ughanghan, Ukhankhan, Uko, Vuongo, Wongo, Yea
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown |
Sapwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Same as heartwood | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Mottled (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Striped figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Mottled figure |
Texture
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium to coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium |
Luster
| Lustrous | ||||||||||||
| Pronounced |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack | ||||||||||||
| Perishable |
Light-Induced Color Change
| Darker |
Toxicity
| Unspecified toxicity |
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast | ||||||||||||
| UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 | ||||||||||||
| UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 |
Drying Defects
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp |
Ease of Drying
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Gluing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Gluing is often difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue |
Mortising
| Finishes poorly | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mortise |
Moulding
| Easy to mould |
Movement in Service
| Medium |
Nailing
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to plane | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish | ||||||||||||
| Planes to a poor finish | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Moderate working qualities | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Variable qualities | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Sanding
| Good sanding finish | ||||||||||||
| Easy to sand |
Screwing
| Possible if prebored |
Turning
| Good results |
Veneering Qualities
| There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits | ||||||||||||
| Gluing is often difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy to cut |
Steam Bending
| Good |
Painting
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
Polishing
| Good results |
Varnishing
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = very high | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = very hard | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = hard |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 13216 | 19616 | psi |
| Density | 50 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1647 | lbs | |
| Impact Strength | 54 | inches | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6934 | 9967 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1929 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1692 | 1955 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 49 | 39 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 929 | 1379 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 801 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 747 | kg | |
| Impact Strength | 137 | cm | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 487 | 700 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 135 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 118 | 137 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 785 | 624 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % |
References
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