Unique opportunity!

SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD4

Podocarpus latifoliusReal Yellowwood

Family: Podocarpaceae

Synonyms: Podocarpus thunbergii Hook.

Other names: Broad-leaf, Upright, Rough-barked and True Yellowwood (Eng)

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USING THE WOOD

The major use of the tree is the utilisation of the wood. It is very popular for fine furniture- and cabinet making and is also suitable for joinery, interior trimming, decorative veneer and turnery. In the past, when the wood was readily available, it was used for domestic flooring, coffins, drawing tables and -instruments and even railway sleepers. Traditionally, it was used to complement darker woods, such as Black Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata). This combination of woods is typical of what is now referred to as Cape Dutch or Cape Cottage furniture.

THE TREE

Real Yellowwood is South Africa’s national tree. It is the most common of the Yellowwood species in South Africa and was heavily utilised by the early settlers. It is iconic, with great sentimental value, as many treasured heirlooms are made of Yellowwood and it was used extensively in early buildings. The wood of the different species is almost indistinguishable.

Real Yellowwood is an evergreen, straight-stemmed tree, with the male and female cones on separate plants. It occurs in montane and coastal forests, where it reaches a height of 30 m, although it can grow to as little as 2 m in exposed areas.

The bark, which peels easily in strips, is yellowish-brown, reddish-brown or grey- to dark brown. It is smooth in young trees and longitudinally fissured in old trees. It is clearly distinguishable from the bark of other Yellowwood species and is often used to identify logs.

Made by Bill BarnesPhoto by Dany James

wood chatter... This is terrible wood to work with as it blunts tools, it cracks, twists and makes you sneeze! Barry James

Absolutely amazing wood to use! Rob Scott

Made by Bill Barnes, Photo by Dany Jameswww.briza.co.za

PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER: Receive 15% discount. Normal price R395.00 each – order your copy now and pay only R335.70 each

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: Subscribe to this unique and valuable book by choosing one of the following options:• Leather-bound collector’s edition – R1 100.00: Only 20 copies

of the leather-bound collector’s edition will be manufactured. Each copy will be numbered and signed by the authors. Your name (or any other preferred name) or your company’s logo will be included in the List of Subscribers.

• Standard edition – R500.00: The standard edition will bear the names of all subscribers to this first edition in the alphabetical List of Subscribers.

A must-have for all who love wood and trees, this beautifully presented book showcases more than 120 Southern African woods, whilst providing an

essential guide to their properties and uses.

SouthERN AfricAnWOOD

for all WHO APPRECIATE WOOD

Stephanie Dyer | Barry James | Danielle James

SA wood COVAUTH.indd 1 2015/08/17 11:26 AM

Also available in Afrikaans

AVAILABLE FEB/MARCH 2016

Please note: We need your

completed form and proof of

payment before 30/10/2015 in order

to include your name in the List of

Subscribers

Specifications

• Publication date: Feb/March 2016

• ISBN: 978-1-920217-58-7 (Eng)

ISBN: 978-1-920217-59-4 (Afr)

• Format: 260 mm x 210 mm

• Extent: 320 pages

• Hard cover

• Full colour throughout

• 750 photographs, distribution maps

SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD4

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Acacia karrooSweet Thorn

Family: Fabaceae

Synonyms: Acacia horrida Willd

Other names: Karoo Thorn, Cape Thorn, Mimosa Thorn, White Thorn (English); Soetdoring,

USING THE WOOD

The wood is extensively used for firewood, but its properties make it suitable for agricultural implements, wagon making, woodwool, interior trim and cabinet work. Acacia kosiensis has been successfully used for woodturning, but it is little known and seldom available commercially.

THE TREE

Acacia karroo is the most common Acacia species in South Africa and is widely distributed. It is now called the Acacia karroo complex as it has recently been separated into three different species, A. kosiensis, A. natalitia and A. theronii.

Trees within the Acacia karroo complex vary from fairly short inland trees, with low-down branching, to tall coastal trees, with clean, straight trunks (A. kosiensis – Dune Sweet Thorn). They have rounded crowns and are quick growing, with lovely golden-yellow “puff ball” flowers. They are indicators of fertile soil, sweet veld and good grazing, but can also proliferate and result in bush encroachment. They are popular as ornamental shade trees and for rehabilitation work.

The bark is dark brown to black, coarse and longitudinally fissured, with a reddish colour in the cracks (the bark of A. kosiensis is greyish-white, with shallow, red-lined fissures). The prominent long, white thorns are straight and paired and the green leaves bipinnately compound.

Made by Bill BarnesPhoto by Dany James

wood chatter... This is terrible wood to work with as it blunts tools, it cracks, twists and makes you sneeze! Barry James

Absolutely amazing wood to use! Rob Scott

SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD4 5

WOOD PROPERTIES

The heartwood is yellow-brown to brown, with attractive dark striping. It is not easily distinguished from the pinkish sapwood. The texture is fine and even and the grain is irregular to wavy. The wood has a characteristic oily smell and is greasy to the touch.

Boards require slow drying under cover to avoid surface checking. Material of 25 mm thickness requires four to five months to air-dry. Large dimension material may split in drying. The wood is very durable and resistant to fungi and borer attack. It is resistant to preservative treatment. Movement of the wood in use is classified as medium.

WOODWORKING PROPERTIES

The wood is difficult to saw when green, but saws easily when dry, due to its oily nature. Power tools are recommended as the wavy grain of the wood makes working with hand tools difficult. The oil in the wood can clog tools and impair glue lines. Special precautions need to be taken when glueing components together. The wood causes significant blunting of tools. It is difficult to plane, due to its hardness, but an excellent surface can be obtained. Sandpaper clogs when finishing, but a silky smooth finish can be obtained with scraping. The wood has good nailing properties, but pre-boring is advisable. It polishes well.

IDENTIFYING THE WOOD

Pores are small to medium-sized, almost exclusively solitary, although pairs or groups of three pores are occasionally present. The wood is diffuse porous. Heartwood pores contain oil and gum. Rays are narrow and hardly visible as light-coloured lines against the darker background. The parenchyma is scanty paratracheal or absent. The fibre tissue forming the background consists of moderately thick- to thick-walled fibres.

Wood properties of Breonadia salicina

Shrinkage: Green to oven dry (%) Radial 4.45

Tangential 7.38

Shrinkage: Green to air dry (%) Radial 3.15

Tangential 5.30

Density (air dry) kg/m³ 930 (850 - 990)

Modulus of rupture (MOR) (MPa) 114

Modulus of elasticity (MOE) (MPa) 14 383

Maximum crushing strength (MPa) 66.9

Hardness (N) Side grain 8 481

End grain 7 842

Maximum shearing strength (MPa) 12.1

Toughness (Joule) 22.8

End grain.Side grain (untreated). Side grain (treated).

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SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD4 5

WOOD PROPERTIES

The heartwood is dark brown to black, with characteristic white striping (parenchyma bands) prominent throughout. The well-defined sapwood is white. The wood is hard-wearing, resists abrasion and has high tensile and cleavage strength. It has a straight to interlocked grain and a fine and even texture.

The wood seasons quickly and well, despite its high density, and is only prone to surface checking. The heartwood is very durable and resistant to borer and fungi and is extremely resistant to preservation. The wood is very stable in use.

WOODWORKING PROPERTIES

The wood is difficult to saw and tungsten-tipped saw teeth are recommended. It has a moderate to severe blunting effect on tools. It planes well to a lustrous, smooth finish, leaving minute, needle-like fibre ends, which are easily sandpapered. The wood peels with difficulty. It has good nail-holding power, but has to be pre-bored to prevent splitting. It glues well and takes all finishes.

End grain.Side grain (untreated). Side grain (treated).

Wood properties of Millettia stuhlmannii

Shrinkage: Green to oven dry (%) Radial 3.10

Tangential 5.80

Shrinkage: Green to air dry (%) Radial 1.30

Tangential 2.20

Density (air dry) kg/m³ 900 (830 - 1 010)

Modulus of rupture (MOR) (MPa) 120

Modulus of elasticity (MOE) (MPa) 13 747

Maximum crushing strength (MPa) 68.4

Hardness (N) Side grain 8 699

End grain 9 177

Maximum shearing strength (MPa) 16.6

Toughness (Joule) 37.8

IDENTIFYING THE WOOD

Pores are arranged in short groups, with groups of four or more rarely found. Pores are medium to large and many contain dark brown or yellow deposits. The wood is diffuse porous. Rays are of medium width and visible as light-coloured lines against the darker background. Parenchyma tissue is paratracheal and aliform to confluent, forming narrow to wide bands. These are wider than, and run perpendicular to, the rays in cross section. Apotracheal parenchyma is present and visible as marginal bands, demarcating growth rings. The background tissue consists of thick-walled fibres. The wood displays a storied structure, visible in the tangential plane or side grain as ripple marks. All rays, axial parenchyma, vessel elements and fibres are storied.

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About the book

The text covers the mechanical properties, workability

and durability of the wood, whilst the stunning full-

colour photographs provide an aid to identification – the

tree, the wood itself and striking end-grain macrographs,

which provide a key identification tool. The book is also

liberally illustrated with splendid photographs of items

made with the various woods.

STEPHANIE DYER was introduced to wood at a very early age thanks to her father, CP Kromhout’s pioneering research work at the then South African Forestry Research Institute (SAFRI) in Pretoria. Stephanie’s interest in wood led to a career in wood science, working at SAFRI and the CSIR, where she was involved in research on wood anatomical properties of indigenous and introduced species. She holds

an MSc in Plant Anatomy and currently lives in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, from where she provides a wood identification and timber information service and runs workshops on wood identification.

BARRY JAMES is an ecologist and environ-

Southern African Wood is an attractive and informative guide to the wood properties of more than 120 Southern African tree species, as well as a handful of introduced tree species. The book covers a broad range of trees, from the famous Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius) and Kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis) to lesser known species such as the African Rosewood (Guibourtia coleosperma) and Lemonwood (Xymalos monospora) and will appeal to a wide variety of readers, including botanists, professional cabinet-makers, wood dealers, designers, architects, hobbyists and anyone who simply loves trees and wood. (Also available in Afrikaans)

DANIELLE JAMES was fascinated by plants from an early age. Although her BA majors were in English and Sociocultural Anthropology, she found that plants, particularly trees, were what really excited her. With her and Barry’s foray into the indigenous wood business, she has found it thrilling to discover the wood of trees that she knows in the wild and is passionate about getting others excited about the diversity and beauty of South Africa’s indigenous woods.

mental consultant, who runs an environmental consultancy in partnership with his wife, Danielle. He has always had a passion for wood and woodworking and this, combined with his interest in plant ecology, led him to start collecting and trading in indigenous South African woods. Barry holds a BSc in Zoology and Botany, BSc(Hons) in Plant Ecology and Rehabilitation Ecology, and an MSc in Plant Ecology.

Return the order form on the back

and proof of payment before 30/10/2015 to

enjoy this special once-off offer.

THE AUTHORS

SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD4

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Millettia stuhlmanniiPanga Panga

Family: Fabaceae

Synonyms: No synonym

Other names: Large-leaved Umzimbeet (Eng); Patryshout (Afr)

USING THE WOOD

This heavy, hard wood has attractive colouring and figure, well described by the Afrikaans name, “Patryshout”, translated as “partridge wood”. It is suitable for furniture, cabinetry, industrial and domestic flooring, turnery, joinery, interior trimming and sleepers. In the past, it was widely used for Government furniture in South Africa.

THE TREE

Panga Panga is a medium to large tree, with a tall, erect stem and smooth, yellow to greenish-grey bark. Sprays of pretty, purple flowers are followed by characteristic velvety, brown pods.

WOOD CHATTER

A favourite! Black to brown colour, so versatile in terms of contrasting with other colours. Very stable. For boxes, can use for whole spectrum. Downside – if you just look at it wrong, you get a splinter. Very grainy, dry, dusty wood. Brian Coetzee, Artisan Boxmaker

Love the colour, but brittle. Tends to splinter a lot. Richard Henley, Cabinetmaker

Fine material, but colouration limits broad use. Best used without sapwood. Stable. Can crack while drying. Rob Scott, Cabinetmaker

Hard, but generally quite easy to work with. Grain can be troublesome, particularly on pretty, ‘partridge wood’ side with attractive grain patterns. Dai Herbert, Woodworker

Even better than grandis, which I love, especially the grain – interesting grain, with little white flecks. Chris Morewood, Woodturner

Quite brittle, splinters easily. Nice in a walking stick top, but not impressed with bowl. Clyde Neumann, Woodturner

Very splintery. Splinters go septic quickly. Lots of silica – blunts tools. If you persist, you can get a nice finish. Dave Stephenson, Woodturner

Terrible wood to work with! Splintery, and splinters go septic. Gert Swart, Sculptor

Panga Panga Jacob’s Ladder Chair by Gert Swart,

Photo by Peter Upfold.

Panga Panga spoon by Jack Lafarge.

Panga Panga and Jacaranda kitchen table by Hugo Partridge.

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SOUTHERN AFRICAN WOOD4

Breonadia salicinaMatumi

Family: Rubiaceae

Synonyms: Breonadia microcephala (Delile) Ridsdale

Other names: African Teak (Eng); Mingerhout (Afr)

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USING THE WOOD

The wood is suitable for heavy construction, industrial flooring, mining timber, guide blocks, furniture, cabinetry, joinery, carving, turnery, sports equipment, agricultural implements and sleepers. In the past, it was used for machine bearings, frame saw guides, building foundations and recommended for use in bridge building. Matumi cleared for the building of the Blyderivierspoort Dam in South Africa in 1971 was used for panelling and furniture in Government offices. Although used for parquet flooring, some found the oiliness and movement in use unacceptable. Traditionally, it is prized for dugout canoes and used for eating platters in Zululand.

THE TREE

Matumi is a small to large tree, occurring along watercourses in bushveld. The bark is grey to grey-brown and rough, with longitudinal fissures.

Traditional Breonadia salicina platters, Photo by Peter Upfold.

WOOD CHATTER

For the smell alone, I could work with it all day! Not oily, but greasy – leaves residue on sole of plane. Works beautifully. Planes nicely and scrapes beautifully. Would make furniture, rather than boxes – stability issue, loses stability below 15 mm. Brian Coetzee, Artisan Boxmaker

Not impressed. Just wood from a tree! Piet Smith, Pepper Mill Turner

Lovely to work with! Works very easily with machines and hand tools. Like working with soft butter. Can get glass-like finish easily with hand planes. Jonathan Fabian, Woodworker

Not a lively colour. Dense. Finishes nicely. Oily. At Smit, Artistic Woodturner

During World War II, a farmer in Zululand was approached by the South African Navy, who wanted to harvest Matumi on his farm for use as ship bearings. He refused and the trees are still there today, treasured by his grandchildren and protected by law! Barry James, Author and Woodworker

Breonadia salicina.indd 4 2015/08/18 6:22 PM

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Please note: We need your completed form and proof of payment before 30/10/2015 in order to include your name in the List of Subscribers