Deck Building Products | Hidden Deck Fasteners

Wood Specifications

Common Names(s): Movingui, Ayan, Nigerian Satinwood
Scientific Name: Distemonanthus benthamianus
Distribution: West Africa
Tree Size: 100-125 ft (30-38 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 45 lbs/ft3 (720 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity: .58, .72
Janka Hardness: 1,280 lbf (5,680 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 18,740 lbf/in2 (129.2 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,773,000 lbf/in2 (12.23 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 8,890 lbf/in2 (61.3 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.5%, Tangential: 5.7%, Volumetric: 10.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Sanded

Sealed

Color & Appearance

Yellow to orangish brown; color tends to darken with age. Movingui frequently exhibits figured grain patterns such as mottle or ripple.

Grain & Texture

Grain can vary from being straight to interlocked to wavy. Texture is fine and even, with a naturally high luster.

Diffuse-porous; large pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; gums and other heartwood deposits occasionally present; growth rings indistinct; rays medium, normal spacing; parenchyma aliform (winged and lozenge), confluent, and banded (sometimes in diagonal wavy bands).

Rot Resistance

Rated as moderately durable regarding decay resistance, and moderately resistant to termite attack.

Workability

Generally the wood is easy to work, though Movingui can have up to 1.3% silica content by weight, which may result in blunting effects ranging from moderate to severe. Quartersawn surfaces may be inclined to tearout during planing, and charring of the wood may occur during drilling. Movingui glues, stains, and finishes well. Responds moderately well to steam bending.

Odor

Movingui has a mild odor when being worked.

Allergies & Toxicity

Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Movingui has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing & Availability

Usually available as veneer, solid lumber is also occasionally available. Cost is in the mid to upper range for an imported hardwood

Sustainability

This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Common Uses

Veneer, cabinetry, furniture, and flooring.

Comments

As with so many other lustrous yellow-colored woods, Movingui is frequently referred to as Satinwood. Its yellow color can be quite vibrant, while it can also have highly pronounced mottle figure, making it a favorite for veneering and applications used for accents.