Here is a website that lists the definition of the wood Mvule along with
other tropical woods

http://www.windsorplywood.com/worldofwoods/tropical/Iroko.html

Chlorophora excelsa

     and C. regia

     Iroko

     Family: Moraceae

     Other Common Names: Semli (Sierra Leone, Liberia), Odoum (Ghana, ivory
 Coast), Rokko, Oroko (Nigeria),
     Abang, Mandji (Cameroon, Gabon), Mereira (Angola), Kambala (Zaire),
Mvule (East Africa).

     Distribution: The two species, between them, extend across the entire
width of tropical Africa. C. regia limited to
     the extreme west of Africa from Gambia to Ghana and is less drought
resistant.

     The Tree: May reach a height of 160 ft, bole straight, cylindrical and
 clear to 80 ft, small buttresses sometimes
     present.

     The Wood:

     General Characteristics: Heartwood varies from a pale yellowish brown
to dark chocolate brown with lighter
     markings most conspicuous on flat-sawn surfaces; sapwood yellowish
white, clearly demarcated. Texture medium to
     coarse; grain typically interlocked, sometimes irregular; slightly
greasy feel; without odor; wet sawdust may cause
     dermatitis; occasional large "stone" deposits of calcium carbonate.

     Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.55;
air-dry density about 43 pcf.

     Mechanical Properties: (2-cm standard)

     Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum
crushing strength

     (%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

     Green (9) 10,700 1,200 5,120

     12% 13,100 1,360 7,910

     12%(44) 11,200 NA 8,450

     12%(44) 13,800 NA 7,150

     Janka side hardness 1,080 lb for green and 1,260 lb for dry material.
Amsler toughness 166 to 248 in.-lb for dry
     material (2-cm specimen).

     Drying and Shrinkage: Dries rapidly with little or no degrade. Kiln
schedule T6-D2 is suggested for 414 stock and
     T3-D1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 2.8%; tangential
3.8%; volumetric 8.8%. Movement in service is
     rated as small.

     Working Properties: Works fairly easily with hand or machine tools but
 with some tearing of interlocked grain;
     occasional deposits of calcium carbonate severely damage cutting
edges; good nailing and gluing characteristics;
     moderate steam-bending properties; may cause dermatitis in working wet
 wood.

     Durability: Heartwood is very durable and is resistant to termite and
marine borer attack as well. Sapwood liable to
     powder-post beetle attack.

     Preservation: Heartwood is extremely resistant to preservative
treatments; sapwood permeable.

     Uses: Suggested as a teak substitute. Joinery, boatbuilding, piling
and marine work, domestic flooring, furniture,
     veneer, railroad crossties, cabinetwork, shop fittings.




[log in to unmask] on 06/08/98 02:32:26 PM

Please respond to [log in to unmask]

To:   [log in to unmask]
cc:    (bcc: Louise Kennedy/FS/KSG)
Subject:  Copal (or copala) finish for wood




We are receiving hand-carved doors from Zanzibar.  They are made of
mvule wood and finished with a french polish (rubbed shellac) and a
copal or copala finish?  Can anyone tell us what a copal finish
contains?  Does anyone know good sources where we might find out more
about the wood?

Thanks,
Lynn Norris
[log in to unmask]
Collections Manager
Exploris
112 S. Blount St.
Raleigh, NC  27601
(919)834-4040
(919)834-3516 fax