TRADE NAME: Bilinga
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Nauclea gilletii (De Wild.) Merr.
- BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: The tree reaches a height of 50 m. The bole is clear, unbuttressed, cylindrical, and straight, from 26 to 32 m in length. The trunk diameter attains 100 to 200 cm.
- NATURAL HABITAT: Nauclea gilletii is a widespread species. It occurs over a wide range of habitats, and is often found in pure stands.
- NATURAL DISTRIBUTION: West, Central and East Africa, from Sierra Leone to Uganda and Angola.
- COLOR: The sapwood is whitish to pale yellow, it has a thickness of 5 cm. The heartwood is yellow to orange yellow, it is clearly demarcated.
WOOD PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- DRYING DEFECTS: Moderately difficult to dry. RECOMMENDED DRY KILN SCHEDULE FR-10
- GRAIN: The grain is highly and systematically interlocked.
- TEXTURE: The wood is typically medium in texture.
- NATURAL DURABILITY: Very durable to decay; without preservative treatment. This species is especially suited for all the uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attacks. NATURAL DURABILITY INDEX (1= VERY HIGH DURABILITY, 7=VERY LOW DURABILITY)1
- RESISTANCE TO IMPREGNATION: Moderately easy to treat with a partial penetration of the preservative products.
WORKABILITY
- SAWING: Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
- ROTARY VENEER CUTTING: Suitable for slicing. SLICED VENEER : Suitable for slicing.
- BLUNTING EFFECT: Slight blunting effect; ordinary tools can be used for sawing and machining.
- MACHINING: It needs powerful tools for processing. Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported. PLANING : Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
- MOULDING: Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
- TURNING: 30
- BORING : Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened. MORTISING : Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened. NAILING : Pre-boring is necessary.
- GLUING : Difficult to glue because of high density.
- SANDING : Difficult to obtain very good results because of interlocked grain.
- POLISHING : Can be polished without surface preparation. STEAM BENDING : Steam bending is difficult.
- RESPONSE TO HAND TOOLS : Working with hand tools is difficult.
END USE:
- HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, flooring, parquet, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, CONTAINERS, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boat deck, port storage