a) General description: The wood is medium red-brown with lighter red to purple veining. The grain is straight or interlocked.
b) Mechanical properties : The wood has low steam bending qualities and exudation of gum pockets is troublesome.
c) Seasoning: Dries easily except for gum exudation, with little degrade, and is stable in service.
d) Working properties: The wood works easily with both hand and machine tools, although gum pockets may cause difficulty. There is a moderate to severe blunting effect on cutting edges which must be kept sharp. Nailing requires pre-boring; gluing may be difficult due to gum pockets, but the wood stains easily and can be brought to an excellent finish.
e) Durability: It is moderately durable but liable to common furniture beetle attack. The sapwood is permeable and the heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment.
f) Uses: It is an excellent turnery wood, and used for knife handles, brush backs, fancy goods. The chief use is for sliced decorative veneers for cabinets and paneling, particularly the rotary cut kevasingo, with a wild, swirling, veined figure.
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