Scientific Name
Carapa procera
Trade Name
African crabwood
Family Name
Meliaceae
Common Names
African crabwood, Agogo, Alla, Andiroba, Asorowa, Bete, Borowa, Bukulo, Carapa, Cedro macho, Chu-nay-dor-kohn, Crabwood, Ditondondo, Dona, Engang, Engany, Gobi, Guiana crabwood, Ibbegogo, Kowi, Kraa-bise, Krapa, Krupi, Krupia, Kundu, Kwaku-bise, Mbukuli, Mbula-ndobi, Mebukulo, Molonkoto, Monkey cola, Mujogo, Mukasa-kumbi, Munangu, Mutongana, Okoto, Sua-bise, Toon-kor-dah, Toon-kor-doh, Uganda crabwood
Regions of Distribution
Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Uganda, Zaire
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Fine furniture, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Paneling, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Rare | ||||||||||||
| Generally secure within its natural habitat | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
Distribution Overview
Widely distributed in western sections of tropical Africa and extending eastward to Uganda, overlapping in Angola and Zaire with C. grandiflora.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish | ||||||||||||
| Darkens upon exposure |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pinkish | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Paler than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| Greyish |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure |
Texture
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium coarse to coarse |
Luster
| Pronounced | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous | ||||||||||||
| High | ||||||||||||
| Dull |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the standing tree | ||||||||||||
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log | ||||||||||||
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to decay | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to attack by termites |
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Light-Induced Color Change
| None | ||||||||||||
| Darker |
Kiln Schedules
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow |
Drying Defects
| Ring Shakes | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Internal Honeycombing Possible | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Slight spring/bow | ||||||||||||
| Severe surface checking | ||||||||||||
| No twisting or warping | ||||||||||||
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Medium to High Shrinkage | ||||||||||||
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Variable results. | ||||||||||||
| Air-dries easily with little degrade |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is fluted |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Gluing
| Carefully Controlled Conditions | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue | ||||||||||||
| Glues well |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement | ||||||||||||
| Small | ||||||||||||
| Stable |
Fair to good dimensional stability after seasoning
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Nails hold poorly | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane | ||||||||||||
| Special attention required | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish | ||||||||||||
| Planes to a satisfactory finish |
Interlocked grain may may tear while planing
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is extremely resistant |
Resistance to Splitting
| Poor | ||||||||||||
| Good |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Steam Bending
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory results | ||||||||||||
| Polishing characteristics are good to very good | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = very soft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
The wood has high density
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 14333 | 21246 | psi |
| Density | 48 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1182 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6526 | 9501 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1947 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1748 | 2018 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.55 | ||
| Weight | 49 | 40 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 1007 | 1493 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 769 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 536 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 458 | 668 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 136 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 122 | 141 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.55 | ||
| Weight | 785 | 641 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % |
References
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