AFZELIA QUANZENSIS (CHAMFUTA)

The various species of Afzelia are very similar in appearance. The sapwood is pale straw-coloured and sharply defined from the light-brown heartwood: the latter often becomes dark red-brown on exposure. Mottle and other figure is frequently present. The grain is irregular and often interlocked and the texture is coarse but even. It is a hard and moderately heavy wood, weighing about 830 kg/m3 when dried. Afzelia is an exceptionally stable wood, being comparable to Teak in this respect. Afzelia can be kiln dried satisfactorily, but slowly, from the green condition. It is very durable and is reported to be proof against termite and teredo. A strong timber, with strength properties comparable with those of Oak. Somewhat hard to work, but produces a good finish and may be polished to a very attractive appearance. It is mainly used for heavy construction work, bridge building and flooring, but it is a good furniture wood especially when figured. It may be cut into veneer and can be used for school, office and garden furniture, staircases, bank counters, laboratory benches, door and window frames, ships rails.

BAIKIAEA PLURIJUGA (RHODESIAN TEAK)

The heartwood is reddish-brown sometimes marked with irregular black lines or flecks, and sharply defined from the lighter coloured narrow sapwood. The grain is straight to slightly interlocked and the texture is fine and even, giving a smooth, hard surface. The weight is about 960 kg/m3 in the dried condition. The wood should not be confused with true Teak (Tectona grandis). The timber dries slowly, and with care should not warp or split excessively. It is a heavy, hard timber about 30 per cent harder than rock maple and is very durable. Rather difficult to work as it has a dulling effect on cutting edges. A good finish is obtained in planing and moulding if the cutting angle is reduced to 20 degrees. Timber turns excellently and polishes well. It is an ideal flooring timber, especially for heavy-duty purposes and is also an excellent timber for furniture.

CHLOROPHORA EXCELSA (IROKO)

When freshly cut the heartwood is a distinct yellow colour, but on exposure to light it quickly becomes golden-brown. The sapwood is narrow and clearly defined. The grain is usually interlocked and the texture is rather coarse but even. Iroko weighs on average 660 kg/m3 when dried. It dries well and fairly rapidly with only a slight tendency to distortion. It has excellent strength properties, comparing well with Teak although weaker in bending and in compression along the grain. It is very durable and works fairly well with most tools. It is valuable for ship and boat-building, light flooring, interior and exterior joinery, window frames, sills, stair treads, fire-proof doors, laboratory benches, furniture, carvings and marine uses such as piling, dock and harbour work and it produces a satisfactory veneer.

DALBERGIA MELANOXYLON (AFRICAN BLACKWOOD)

It is a small tree rarely over 2.5m high and has a diameter of about 200mm, rarely exceeding 300mm and is often multi-stemmed. The sapwood is narrow, white in colour and clearly defined from the dark heartwood, which is dark brown with predominant black streaks, giving an almost black appearance to the wood. It is straight graned and extremely fine textures, hard and more dense than rosewoods generally, weighing about 1200 kg/m3 when dried. It is generally partially dried in log or billet form and then converted and stacked under cover to complete drying. It dries extremely slowly and heart shakes are very common. In general the wood needs to be carefully handled to minimise checking. It is very durable and, in spite of its hardness, it works quite easily and takes an excellent finish. Moderately hard to saw and has to be drilled for nails and screws. It is used for ornamental turnery, chessmen, carved figures, walking sticks, inlay work, brushbacks, knife handles and pulley blocks. Its oiliness and resistance to climatic changes commend it for woodwind instruments in preference to Ebony and it is used in the manufacture of bagpipes, clarinets, piccolos and flutes.

Sapele
Entandrophragma cylindricum

ENTANDROPHRAGMA CYLINDRICUM (SAPELE)

The sapwood is pale yellow or whitish, the heartwood pinkish when freshly cut, darkening to typical mahogany colour of reddish-brown. Sapele is characterised by a marked and regular stripe, particularly pronounced on quarter-sawn surfaces. Occasionally mottle figure is present. It is fairly close-textured and the grain is interlocked. It is harder and heavier than African mahogany, weighing about 640 kg/m3 when dried. The timber dries rapidly, with a marked tendency to distort. Sapele is moderately durable and is much harder than African or American mahogany and is practically equal to English oak. It is used for veneer, furniture, cabinet-making, shop-fitting, boat-building, panelling, flooring and joinery.

EUCALYPTUS GRANDIS/SALIGNA (SALIGNA)

Although not an indigenous African species, there are large plantations of Eucalypts in South Africa and we supply FSC certified sawn timber. As the two species are often planted together, Saligna generally means both above species and does not differentiate, so it is usual to receive a consignment containing a mixture of both species.

Saligna (Sydney Blue Gum) has pale yellow sapwood, fairly well-defined from the light rose-brown heartwood. The grain is usually interlocked, occasionally straight and the texture is rather coarse. The wood weights about 920 kg/m3 when dried and the strength properties are similar to that of Karri. The timber is moderately durable and is used in general construction, flooring (light domestic), weather-boards, boat-building, wagon construction, fencing and for plywood, for which purpose the veneer needs careful drying.

Grandis (Rose gum) had light red sapwood and the heartwood is dark red. The grain is usually interlocked and the texture is fine. The wood weighs about 705 kg/m3 when dried and has similar strength to that of Jarrah. The sapwood is said to be non-susceptible to Lyctus attack. The timber is non-durable and is used for construction, sleepers, posts, fencing, cases and weather-boards when treated for severe exposure.

PTEROCARPUS SOYAUXII (AFRICAN PADAUK)

The sapwood is of an oatmeal colour and very wide, sometimes up to 200mm. The heartwood varies from blood red to dark brown with red streaks. A hard, heavy wood, weighing between 640 and 800 kg.m3 when dried, it has a straight to slightly interlocked grain and the texture is moderately coarse. The timber dries well, but slowly and is very durable. Although commonly known as a dye wood, it is an attractive timber suitable for furniture and cabinet-making. It holds its place well after drying and is not liable to warp. It is used for knife handles, carving, electrical fittings, paddles, oars and agricultural implements in Africa.

PTEROCARPUS ANGOLENSIS (KIAAT)

The timber resembles other species of the Pterocarpus genus (Padauk from Burma, Andamans and Africa) but lacks the reddish colour of Padauk, being brown with irregular reddish streaks. It is also softer and lighter in weight than the Padauks, weighing about 640 kg/m3 when dried. The sapwood is quite wide and is oatmeal in colour and the grain is straight to interlocked, with a medium texture. The timber has excellent drying properties and there is only the slightest tendency for surface checking to occur. It is a very durable timber but, owing to the varying grain even in the same log, its strength is generally lower on average than the values for Padauk. It is easy to saw and work, has good nailing and screwing properties and takes a good polish. It is attractive timber, suitable for panelling, high-class joinery and furniture and makes a first-class floor with a moderate resistance to wear. It is also a good timber for decorative veneer.