Hardwood (28)
Amphimas pterocarpoides
Known also as yaya, asanfran, bokanga (Zaire), edjin-edzil(Cameroon), edzui (Gabon), muizi (Congo) and va tue.
Where it grows
Lati grows in West Africa and Central Africa.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | yellowish white | 
|
| Heartwood | yellowish brown | |
| Grain | straight | |
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. (kg/m³) | 800 heavy |
| Strength | medium |
| Durability | low |
| Shrinkage | medium |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
|
|
| Sawing | 
|
| Machining |
|
| Finishing |
|
End Uses
Interior joinery, moulding, boxes and crates, veneers and interior fittings.
Remarks
Light coloured interior species of attractive appearance. Lati has resemblance to Oak.
SHOREA - Dark Red Meranti Shorea pauciflora
Known also as Red luan, Tangile (Philippines), Dark red seraya, Saya(Thailand), Meranti ketuko (Indonesia) and Alan (Sarawak).
Where it grows
Meranti grows in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Sumatra and Kalimantan.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | pinkish |  |
| Heartwood | dark brown medium to deep red | |
| Grain | interlocked | |
| Height | 200 ft | |
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Average weight at 12% M.C ( kg/m³) | 670 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. | 0,55 |
| Crushing strength | good |
| Bending strength | good |
| ΣModulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) | 11400 |
| Hardness (kN) | 3,5 |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Gluing | |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Veneer, plywood, joinery, flooring, general construction, boatbuilding, cabinets and furniture. Dark Red Meranti is used in staircase building, entrance doors, furniture and window frames.
Remarks
Meranti is light hardwood. There are 4 main grouping: Light Red, Dark Red, Yellow and White.The sapwood is moderately resistant to permeable, generally resistant to preservative treatments. Dark Red Meranti has superior durability and insulation properties compared to other timbers used for window frames. When KD it is stable and moves very little in service.
Heritiera utilis = Tarrietia utilis
Known also as nyankom (Ghana), ogoue (Gabon), yami (Sierra Leone), whismore (Liberia), anguekong and kwaeduma.
Where it grows
Niangon grows in the West African coastal forests from Sierra Leone through Liberia and the Ivory Coast to Ghana. A closely allied species occurs in Gaboon and it is shipped under the same name.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | white to grevish white |  |
| Heartwood | pink brown to red brown, darkening on exposure | |
| Grain | slightly interlocked | |
| Height | 60 ft with diameter of about 2'-3' | |
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Green weight kg/m³ | 900-1000 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. (kg/m³) | 700 medium |
| Volumetric swelling for 1% M.C. variation V% | 0,44 medium |
| Crushing strength (N/mm²) C12 | 55 |
| Static bending strength (N/mm²) F12 | 118 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) E12 | 9900 |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Κακή
Καλή »
| |
| Sawing | |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Wood Bending | |
| Gluing | |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Exterior joinery, window frames, doors, drawer sides, boat construction, vehicle bodies, furniture, veneer and plywood.
Remarks
Medium strength, moderate durability and resistant to preservative treatment. An alternate to menkular for some end-uses. Ogoue from Gabon is heavier.
Quercus spp.
The principal species producing Europen oak are Q.petrea (sessile oak, Durmast oak in the UK and English/French/Polish/Slavonian oak according to origin) also Q.robur (UK)
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | lighter than heartwood |  |
| Heartwood | light tan or yellow brown | |
| Grain | straight | |
| Height |
60-100 ft with diameter of about 4-6' |
|
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Average weight (kg/m³) | 720-750 |
| Seasoned weight (kg/m³) | 660 |
| Strength | υψηλή |
| Steam bending |
πολύ καλή |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Furniture, cabinets, boat building, dock and harbour work, high-class interior and exterior joinery, flooring and veneer.
Remarks
One of world’s most popular timbers.
| Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Quality | Length |
| 25 x 130 mm + | 4 sides clear w/out saps | 2.20 m + |
| 49 x 130 mm + |
4 sides clear w/out saps |
2.20 m + |
Aucoumea klaineana
Known also as okume and n’goumi (Equat. Guinea), angouma (Gabon) and n’kumi (Congo).
Where it grows
Oukoume grows mostly in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Congo Republic.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | Demarcated, frevish white |  |
| Heartwood |
light pink to dark pink, darkening to pink-brown on exposure |
|
| Grain | slightly interlocked | |
| Height | 200 ft with diameter of about 3'-6,5' | |
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Green weight kg/m³ | 550-650 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. (kg/m³) | 440 light |
| Volumetric swelling for 1% M.C. variation V% | 0,33 small |
| Crushing strength (N/mm²) C12 | 36 |
| Static bending strength (N/mm²) F12 | 87 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) E12 | 7800 |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Sawing | |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Wood Bending | |
| Gluing | NO DATA |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Interior joinery, plywood, blockboard, laminboard, facings and mouldings a substitute for mahongy, interior frames for furniture, boxes and crates.
Remarks
Weak timber of light density, moderate durability and moderately resistant to preservative treatment. Okoume is exported more than any other African wood.
Liriodendron tulipifera
Known also as Yellow poplar, tulip poplar and canary whitewood.
Where it grows
Tulipwood grows widespread throughout Eastern USA.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | creamy white |  |
| Heartwood |
pale yellowish brown to olive green, darkening on exposure |
|
| Grain | straight | |
| Height |
200 ft with diameter 6' |
|
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Average weight at 12% M.C ( kg/m³) | 449 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. | 0,42 |
| Average Volumetric Shrinkage Green to 6 % M.C (%) | 9,8 |
| Crushing strength |
- |
| Bending strength | - |
| Modulus of Elasticity (Mpa) | 10,894 |
| Hardness (N) | 2402 |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Wood Bending | |
| Gluing | |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Joinery and mouldings, light construction, turning and carving, panelling, doors, cabinets and furniture and edged-glued panels.
Remarks
The heartwood is moderately resistant to treatment with preservatives. Sapwood is permeable. The characteristics of wood can vary according to growing regions. The wood is has many desirable characteristics.
Quercus spp.
Known also as Northern red oak and Southern red oak.
Where it grows
Red oak grows widespread throughout Eastern USA.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | white to light brown |  |
| Heartwood |
pinkish reddish brown |
|
| Grain | straight | |
| Height |
60-75 ft with diameter 3' |
|
| Properties | ||
|---|---|---|
|
N.R.O.* |
S.R.O.* | |
| Average weight at 12% M.C ( kg/m³) | 705 | 753 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. | 0,63 | 0,68 |
| Average Volumetric Shrinkage Green to 6 % M.C (%) | 10,8 | - |
| Crushing strength |
high |
high |
| Bending strength | medium | medium |
| Modulus of Elasticity (Mpa) | 12,549 | 15,721 |
| Hardness (N) | 5738 | 6583 |
* N.R.O. = northern Red Oak
* S.R.O. = Southern Red Oak
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Wood Bending | |
| Gluing | |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Construction, flooring, internal joinery and mouldings, panelling, doors, cabinets, furniture and caskets.
Remarks
Moderately easy to treatment with preservatives. Red oak can vary in colour and properties according to the growing region. It is a hard and heavy wood and it grows more abundantly than the white oaks.
Entandrophragma cylindricum sprague
Known also as aboudikro (Ivory Coast), penkwa (Ghana), Assie – Sapelli(Cameroon), undianuno (Angola, Congo) and sapelli-mahagoni(Germany).
Where it grows
Sapele grows widely in the tropical rain forests of West, Central and East Africa, from the Ivory Coast through Ghana and Nigeria to Cameroon, and eastwards to Uganda, Zaire and Tanzania.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | pinkish grey to whitish | |
| Heartwood | red brown to purplish brown | |
| Grain | slightly interlocked | |
| Height |
150-200 ft with diameter of about 3' |
|
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Green weight kg/m³ | 850-950 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. (kg/m³) | 680 medium |
| Volumetric swelling for 1% M.C. variation V% | 0,47 medium |
| Crushing strength (N/mm²) C12 | 62 |
| Static bending strength (N/mm²) F12 | 142 |
| Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) E12 | 11200 |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Sawing | |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Wood Bending | |
| Gluing | |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Interior and exterior joinery, interior fittings and panelling, sliced veneers for cabinets, flooring, plywood, furniture and boat construction.
Remarks
High crushing strength, moderate durability and resistant to preservative treatment.
Principally acer rubrum, A. Saccharinum
Known also as Red maple and silver maple.
Where it grows
Soft Maple grows throughout Eastern USA.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | grevish white |  |
| Heartwood |
light to dark reddish brown |
|
| Grain | straight | |
| Height |
60-90 ft with diameter 2' |
|
| Ιδιότητες | |
|---|---|
| Average weight at 12% M.C ( kg/m³) | 609 |
| Specific gravity at 12 % M.C. | 0,54 |
| Average Volumetric Shrinkage Green to 6 % M.C (%) | 10,5 |
| Crushing strength |
medium |
| Bending strength | medium |
| Modulus of Elasticity (Mpa) | 11,308 |
| Hardness (N) | 4226 |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
| |
| Drying | |
| Machining | |
| Wood Bending | |
| Gluing | |
| Nailing | |
| Finishing | |
End Uses
Joinery and moulding, doors, cabinets, panelling, furniture and turning.
Remarks
The heartwood is moderately resistant to treatment with preservatives. Sapwood is permeable. The wood of soft maple is similar to hard maple. It can be substitute for beech.
Tectona grandis
Where it grows
Teak grows throughout India, Thailand, Indonesia, Java and is indigenous to Burma. It has been introduced into Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines, tropical Africa and Central America.
| Appearance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sapwood | pale yellow brown | 
|
| Heartwood | dark golden golden brown, darkening on exposure to mid or dark brown | |
| Grain | straight (Burma), wavy (India) | |
| Height | 30-35 ft with diameter about 3'-5' | |
| Properties | |
|---|---|
| Average weight (kg/m³) | 610-690 |
| Seasoned gravity (kg/m³) | 640 |
| Crushing strength | high |
| Bending strength | medium |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
|
« Poor
Good »
|
|
| Drying |
|
| Machining |
|
| Gluing |
|
| Nailing |
|
| Finishing |
|
End Uses
Furniture, cabinets, decking for ship, boat building, handrails, planking, high-class joinery for doors, paneling, externally for dock and harbour work, bridges,garden furniture and floorings.
Remarks
Teak enjoys a reputation for its strength and durability and its excellent decorative appearance.
