Exotic Woods Trading

BOTANICAL NAMES

Lovoa trichilioides, Lovoa klaineana

 

FAMILY

Member of the Meliaceae family

 

COMMERCIAL NAMES

Bibolo, African Walnut, Noyer d'Afrique, Tigerwood

 

NATIVE NAMES

Bibolo, Noyer, Dibetou, Mpengwa, Bombulu, Apopo.

 

SPECIES APPLICATIONS/ USES

HIGH CLASS FURNITURE – SLICED VENEER – INTERIOR PANELING – TURNED GOODS – SEATS – LIGHT CARPENTRY

 

RANGE

African equatorial forests and gallery forests throughout the equatorial region.

 

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The heartwood is bronze orange-brown, with gum lines causing black streaks or lines. Distinctly demarcated from the pale brown to pale grey, 3–7 cm wide sapwood. The grain is usually interlocked, but is sometimes straight, texture moderately fine to fine. The wood is lustrous and has an attractive appearance, with a ribbon-like aspect on quarter-sawn surfaces. It has a cedar-like scent.

Decay resistance is rated as moderately durable, with the heartwood being resistant to powder post beetles, but susceptible to termites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRYING

With some caution, it air dries and kiln dries well, with only slight risk of distortion and checking.

 

SPECIFIC WEIGHT

With a moisture content of 12%, the specific weight with an average of 565 kg per cubic meter.

 

PRINCIPAL USES AND PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

The wood is easy to saw and work; ordinary equipment can be used. There is some tendency of picking up of grain when the wood is quarter-sawn, and planing may be difficult because of the presence of interlocked grain, resulting in tearing. A cutting angle of 15–20° is recommended. Tools should be kept sharp. The nailing and screwing properties are good, although there may be some tendency to splitting. The wood finishes well, but for a fine polish the use of a filler is recommended. The gluing, painting and varnishing properties are satisfactory, the steam bending properties moderate.