Up for sale is a 1 3/16x7x48 1/2 piece of White Limba
BOTANICAL NAME: Terminalia superba of the Family Combretaceae.
COMMON NAMES: generally known in the US as afara, korina, white limba, and black limba, it is also known around the world as: afa, afara (nigeria), afia afia, afodonko, afraa, aghan, akam, akom (cameroon), an rin, bale, baya, bese, black limba, blie, bokone, chene limbo, congo walnut, dark afara, dark limba, djombe, edo, egean, egoin, egoin nufua, egonni, egoyin, eji, faraen, frake (ivory coast), fram, frameri, framo, frane, frango, frany, gbararada, ka-ren, kegblale, kojaagei, kojagei, kom, kone, kongo, korina, kosina, kumkunbe, landi, light afara, limba bariole, limba blanc, limba clair, limba noir, limbo, moukonia, mukonja, n'dimba, n'kom, n'limba, noyer, noyer du mayombe, noyer limbo, offram, ofram (ghana), ojiloko, owebala, shingle wood, tra, unwonrom, white afara, and white limba.
TYPE: hardwood
COLOR: There are really three kinds of limba as far as color is concerned. First there is the "normal" tree, in which the sapwood is off-white, sometimes yellowish or even pale brown and the heartwood is similarly colored and not clearly differentiated from the sapwood. These are two types of limba and are virtually indistinguishable although sometimes the heartwood will be darker brown. The sapwood of this version is "white limba" AND SO IS THE HEARTWOOD. THEN there is the third limba, which is the somewhat more rare heartwood which has varying degrees of irregular black streaking, and THAT is what is meant by "black limba". So in terms of TREES, there is no such thing as white or black limba --- these are terms that are used to distinguish between color/figure variations.
All limba darkens a little with age.
GRAIN: usually straight, but sometimes irregular and/or interlocked
TEXTURE: medium to coarse, generally on the coarse side
PROPERTIES / WORKABILITY: A fairly weak, light wood not used where strength is required and prone to brittleheart (some reports say VERY prone). It saws and planes easily, although experts recommend a reduced cutting angle when planing material with irregular grain to prevent tearing. It works well with hand and machine tools with little blunting effect, sands well, good veneering properties, glues well, good screwing and nailing characteristics but pre-boring is recommended because even though it's fairly light and soft, it has a tendancy to split. Bores easily and well, carves well, turns well.
DURABILITY: perishible, susceptable to attack by powder post beetles, ambrosia beeltes, and termites, and moderately resistant to preservative treatment, especially in the heartwood. Mechanical durability is poor. A couple of reports mention that felled trees require special preventive care to protect the heartwood against deterioration.
FINISH: general finishing qualities are rated as good and my experience is that the luster is medium although some reports say high and satiny. One report says filler needed for a good finish and/or good polish.
STABILITY: low movement in service
BENDING: has poor steam bending properties
ODOR: mild odor and no distinct taste
SOURCES: Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra leone, South africa, Togo, Zaire
USES: Prized for guitars (the "black" limba particularly), it is also used for boat building (general), boxes and crates, cabinetmaking, cabinetry, chairs, chemical derivatives, coffins, cooperages, decorative veneer, doors, flooring, fuelwood, furniture, handles, heavy construction, interior construction, interior joinery, joinery, light construction, marquetry, matches, millwork, moldings, office furniture, paneling, particleboard, plywood, posts, pulp/paper products, shingles, sporting goods, tables, turnery, vats, vehicle parts, and decorative veneer.
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