African Blackwood

African Blackwood

Environmental Profile
The environmental status of this species within its natural habitat has not been officially determined.  
 
Distribution
African blackwood is reported to occur extensively in the savannah areas in Africa, from Sudan southward to Mozambique, westward to Angola, and northward to Nigeria and Senegal.  The tree is also reported to grow in western India.
 
Product Sources
Some material from this species is reported to be available from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources.
 
The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that timber from this species is produced in limited volumes and is exported in small sized cants.
 
The timber is reported to be exported in log form from East African ports.  Log lengths are usually from 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) and are often sold by importers only in log form and by the pound.  Price range is reported to be in the expensive range. 
 
Tree Data
The small tree is reported to often develop more than a single stem.  It usually grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m), but may occasionally reach 50 feet (15 m).  The bole is often short, fluted, and rarely cylindrical, with diameters that are seldom more than 12 inches (30 cm).  Trees are reported to have distinctive spines.
 
Sapwood Color
The narrow sapwood is usually yellow-white in color, and is clearly distinct from the heartwood.
 
Heartwood Color
The heartwood has an almost black appearance. It is dark-purple brown in color, with predominant black streaks.
 
Grain
The grain is variable but it is reported to be usually straight.
 
Texture
The wood is described as extremely fine and even-textured.
 
Luster
Luster is reported to be low to medium.
 
Odor
There is no characteristic odor or taste.
 
Ease of Drying
The wood is reported to require extremely slow drying rates, and could take 2 to 3 years to season.  End-coating of logs or billets is reported to be necessary to minimize degrade.
 
Resistance to Impregnation
The material is reported to be extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
 
Blunting Effect
Tungsten/carbide tipped saws are reported to be essential for conversion.
 
Cutting Resistance
Dry timber is reported to be rather difficult to work and tends to blunt cutting edges rapidly.
  
Turning
The wood is considered to be one of the best timbers for turnery work, and turns to produce a smooth lustrous finish.  Metal-working tools are recommended for the manufacture of woodwind instruments.
 
Boring
Seasoned timber is reported to be rather difficult to work in most woodworking operations.  It responds poorly to ordinary machine tools, and has severe and rapid blunting effect on cutting edges.
 
Polishing
The wood is reported to finish to produce a brilliantly polished, lustrous surface.
 
Staining
The wood is reported to have good staining properties.
 
Steam Bending
The material is reported to be too heavy and too dense to be used in steam bending applications.
 
Comments
African blackwood is reported to be superior to Ebony for the manufacture of woodwind instruments because of its oily nature and high tolerance to fluctuations in climatic conditions.  It is reported to respond almost as well as metals to tapping for screw threads