Ric, Perhaps the following tells more than one wants to know about bubinga: Commercial names: African rosewood, Kevasingo ( when rotary cut). Other names: Essingang (Camaroon) Kevazingo,Buvenga (Gabon) Distribution: Chiefly from the Camaroon and Gabon, also from Zaire. General description: The wood is medium red-brown with lighter red to purple veining. The grain is straight or interlocked. In some logs the grain is very irregular, and these are converted by peeling into rotary cut veneers called kevasingo. The texture is moderately coarse but even. The weight averages 55 lbs per cubic foot. Mechanical properties: The timber has low steambending qualities and exudation of gum pockets is troublesome. Seasoning: Dries easily, except for gum exudation, with little degrade, and is stable in service. Working properties: The timber works easily with both hand or machine tools, though gum pockets may cause difficulty. Interlocked and irregular grain material tends to tear or pick up and a reduced cutting angle of 15 deg. is necessary for planing or molding. 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. Durability: It is moderately durable but liable to common furniture beetle attack. The sapwood is permeable and the heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment. 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 panelling, particularly the rotary cut kevasingo, with a wild, swirling, veined figure. My reference is "World Woods in Color" by William A. Lincoln, Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, CA. Hope you are not sorry you asked! Ted Sambell -----Original Message----- From: Richard Moody [mailto:remoody@midstatesd.net] Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2000 7:34 PM To: caut@ptg.org Subject: Re: Hamburg Pinblock? > > The top and bottom layers of the Hamburg Steinways are bubinga as Rick said. > I visited the factory and was told this. > > Ted Sambell OK, what's bubinga? ---ric
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