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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: George D. Stout on February 28, 2009, 03:01:00 PM
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I was recently researching the old Shakespeare bows, and the Necedah that I own. It's a 1967, and per manufacturer specs it's made of Benge, also called Mutenye. I always thought they were made of Shedua, but the color seemed darker...like Tigerwood. A little more research results in the following:
MUTENYE
Family
Caesalpiniaceae
Other Names
M’penze, Benzi, Mbenge, Tropical oliver, Olive walnut
Scientific Names
Guibourtia arnoldiana
Source
West and Central Africa
Wood Appearance
The heartwood is yellowish brown to brown presenting a dark striping or reddish glints. The sapwood is clearly demarcated. The grain is straight or interlocked and the texture is fine. Density at 12 % moisture content: 0.79 g/cm3.
Working Properties
The blunting effect is fairly high and slicing is reported to be good. Requires power. Some difficulties in planning due to interlocked grain. Nailing is good but pre-boring is necessary. Gluing is correct for interior only. It dries slowly and must be dried carefully.
Durability
Mutenye is moderately durable to fungi and is durable to dry wood borers; sapwood demarcated (risk limited to sapwood).
Uses Mutenye can be used for several applications: • interior: e.g. panelling, flooring, sliced veneer, stairs, seats, wood-ware, high class furniture, joinery • exterior: e.g. heavy carpentry, wood frame house Substitute for Walnut (Juglans regia) for sliced veneers.
Here's a close-up of my riser:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/oldearcher46/0000001025.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/oldearcher46/0000001024.jpg)
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That does look a lot like shedua.
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So, that's where the saying, Here's mut in yer eye came from! Great looking wood.