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Common Name: |
Makore |
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| Botanical Name: |
Mimusops Heckelii |
| Other Names: |
African Cherry, Baku, Makore, Douka, Ukola |
| Species distribution: |
Central Africa along the western coast Sierra Leone to Cameroon |
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Tree Characteristics:
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Grows mostly in the high rain forests reaching heights of
180 to 200ft. Trunk diameters from 4-10 ft.
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Wood Characteristics:
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Medium texture with straight fine grain
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Workability:
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Makore has a high silica content that can cause blunting
of cutting edges. Excellent finishing properties and good gluing properties.
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Finishing Qualities:
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Good  |
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Durability:
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Heartwood is highly durable and resistant to insect attack.
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Drying:
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Dries slow with moderate degradation. 5%-6% tangential shrinkage.
Volumetric shrinkage of 10%-11%
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Stability:
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Excellent  |
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Steam Bending:
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Heartwood only
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Uses:
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Furniture, cabinetry and turning. Used often in veneer form.
Also used often in marine plywood and boat building.
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Price:
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Expensive
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Common Name: |
Ash, White
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| Botanical Name: |
Fraxinus, americana |
| Other Names: |
American White Ash, Canadian White Ash |
| Species distribution: |
- |
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Wood Characteristics:
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Strong and very shock-resistant
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Color:
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Light brown heartwood with white sapwood.
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Workability:
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Moderate dulling of saw blades and cutters, excellent bending
properties.
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Finishing Qualities:
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Good |
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Durability:
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Good |
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Uses:
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Baseball bats, pool cues, canoe paddles, tool handles, veneer,
boat building.
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Comments:
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White ash has been called the all-American leisure wood because
of the large number of uses it has in sports and recreation equipment.
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Price:
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Inexpensive
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Common Name: |
Ash, Black |
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| Botanical Name: |
Fraxinus, nigra |
| Other Names: |
Northern Brown Ash, Swamp Ash, Hoop Ash, Brown Ash, Water Ash. |
| Species distribution: |
- |
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Natural Characteristics:
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Straight grain with a coarse even texture.
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Workability:
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Moderate dulling of saw blades and cutters, excellent bendability.
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Finishing Qualities:
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Good |
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Durability:
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Fair  |
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Comments:
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Grows in the North Eastern wetlands.
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Uses:
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Joinery, internal cabinetry, baskets, plywood and veneers.
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Price:
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Inexpensive
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Common Name: |
Balsa |
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| Botanical Name: |
Ochroma pyramidale |
| Other Names: |
Tami, Guano, Lanero, Polak, Topa. |
| Species distribution: |
Central Africa along the western coast Sierra Leone to Cameroon |
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Wood Characteristics:
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Straight grain with a soft texture
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Workability:
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Excellent .
Blades must be kept sharp. Can be cut and shaped easily with hand tools. |
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Finishing Qualities:
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Good |
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Durability:
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Poor  . Very soft. |
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Quality:
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Accepts finishes well but absorbs large quantities of the
finish.
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Stability:
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Excellent |
| Comments: |
Balsa is the lightest of the commercially available hardwoods. |
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Uses:
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Life rafts, theater props, model making, toys, and any other
situation where weight is a primary concern.
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Price:
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Moderate
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Common Name: |
Basswood |
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| Botanical Name: |
Tilia americana |
| Other Names: |
American Linden, American Lime, Lime Tree, Linn. |
| Species distribution: |
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Wood Characteristics:
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Straight grain, fine texture.
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Workability:
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Excellent .
Blunts cutters slightly, poor bending properties. |
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Finishing Qualities:
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Good with most
finishes.
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Durability:
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Good . |
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Comments:
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Excellent
for kitchen utensils and food containers. Excellent for caving.
Basswood is exceptional at holding carving details.
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Uses:
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Turning, wood carving, boxes, crates, toys.
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Price:
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Inexpensive
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