Afzelia/Doussie

Scientific Name:
Afzelia africana

Other Names and Species:
Afa
Beyo
Doussie
Lingue
Papayo
Uvala

Afzelia (25-30m height and 1.2m trunk diameter) is West Africa species with Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent, heartwood basically brown to red, without streaks, sapwood has a colour distinct from heartwood colour (pale straw to whitish). Conspicuous interlocked grain, medium luster. This wood is great choice for flooring.

Weight:
Specific gravity 0.7-0.78-0.88 g/cm³.

Use:
Favorable valued for interior/exterior cabinetmaking, window frames, floors, stairways, ships’ rails, heavy construction including harbor and dock work, furniture, laboratory equipment, and chemical containers, vats and tanks, favorite among locals for decorative doors and chests.

General Characteristics:
Afzelia is a type of wood which does NOT have knots, but rather a strong grain and color, giving it a distinctive character. Texture moderate to gross; grain straight to interlocked; medium luster; without any identifying odor or taste.  Some centers contain a yellow dye which, under moist conditions, can discolor textiles, paper, or other cellulosic cloths.

Working Properties:
This wood are pretty difficult to saw and machine but good enough when it sands to a smooth surface. Somewhat difficult to glue but when nailed, it has good holding ability. The wood has satisfactory staining and polishing ability due to yellow deposits in pores.

Drying and Shrinkage:
air-dry density 51 pcf. Kiln schedule T6-D2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green 12% moisture content: radial 1.0%; tangential 1.5%. Seasons satisfactorily but slowly with little or no disgrace.

Durability:
Afzelia wood recognizes itself by great properties, especially its stability, has high suppression and bending strength, low resistance to shock loads and average severity. Heavy, very stable in use, high strength and durability. Great resistance to preservative treatment and saturation it is recommended for products and structures where only low tolerance to shrinkage is satisfactory.

Index you maybe interesting in reading: Janka Hardness Hardwood Floor Scale

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