Acajou D’afrique Wood: Properties, Characteristics & Uses

Acajou D’afrique Wood, also known as African mahogany, is a rare and precious wood that is often referred to as the “king of woods.” This wood is known for its rich, dark brown color, beautiful grain, and smooth, strong grain. It is a popular choice for the production of high-quality furniture. Why is Acajou D’afrique Wood so special? Let’s explore with K-TIMBER the outstanding characteristics of this type of wood in the article below.

Acajou d’afrique Wood General information

Acajou d’afrique Wood, also known as Khaya Anthotheca, is a large tree species in the Meliaceae family native to West and Central Africa. This tropical tree can grow up to 60 meters tall and 1.5 meters in diameter. It is a valuable timber species with a straight trunk and dense, dark heartwood. The sapwood is lighter in color and is often used for veneer.

Acajou d’afrique Wood is an exotic tree that grows in dense tropical rainforests and was introduced to Angola for cultivation. This tree prefers partial shade and does not grow in stands. The winged seeds of acajou d’afrique are dispersed by wind in March-April or August-September.

Acajou d’afrique Wood Properties

Acajou d’afrique wood is an exotic wood and is quite popular in many countries around the world. Below are some outstanding characteristics of Acajou d’afrique wood: 

Color and Texture

Acajou d’Afrique heartwood is pinkish-brown to light reddish-brown. The sapwood is typically a pale creamy yellow to yellowish-white clearly delineated with the heartwood. As the wood ages, the heartwood can darken to a richer, deeper brown.

The grain of Acajou d’Afrique can be straight or interlocked. It has a medium to fine texture with a slightly greasy feel. The wood has a medium luster and is not prone to excessive grain tearout.

Density and strength 

Acajou d’Afrique Wood is a medium-density hardwood with a density of 0.46 to 0.54 g/cm3. This density is similar to that of other softwoods, such as pine and fir.

Despite its moderate density, Acajou d’Afrique timber has impressive strength properties. Its bending strength and stiffness are ranked high among tropical woods, making it suitable for structural applications such as furniture frames and load-bearing beams. 

Acajou d’Afrique is considered to have moderate durability and moderate to poor resistance to insects and termites.

Workability

Acajou d’Afrique Wood is generally easy to work with by hand or with power tools. However, the wood can be prone to tear-out, especially if the grain is interlocked. It can be prone to staining, especially in wet conditions. This wood can also react with iron nails and screws, causing rust stains on the wood surface.

Acajou d’afrique Wood Technical Properties

Acajou d’afrique Wood Advantages

• Aesthetic appeal: The heartwood of Acajou d’Afrique Wood ranges in color from pale pink to richer dark brown, with occasional streaks of medium to dark reddish-brown. The color darkens with age. Quartersawn surfaces have a ribbon-like figure, which gives the wood a unique beauty.
• Workability: Acajou d’Afrique Wood is generally easy to work with. It has a medium to coarse texture, which makes it easy to shape and finish.
• Durability: Acajou d’Afrique has moderate durability, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. The wood can withstand the elements, but it requires regular maintenance to maintain its beauty and durability.
• Cost: Acajou d’Afrique Wood is moderately priced for an imported hardwood.

See more: (Takula) Padauk Wood: Properties, Characteristics & Uses

Acajou d’afrique Wood Disadvantages

• Insect resistance: Acajou d’Afrique Wood has moderate to poor resistance to insects, including termites. Therefore, this wood should be treated with a preservative chemical before use outdoors.
• Allergy potential: Acajou d’Afrique Wood has been reported to be an allergen. Although serious reactions are rare, most common reactions simply involve eye and skin irritation.
• Scarcity: Acajou d’Afrique is listed in Appendix II of CITES, which restricts the exploitation of this wood. Additionally, all major African Khaya mahogany species are listed on the IUCN Red List, listed as vulnerable.

Great applications of Acajou d’afrique wood in life

• Structures and panels: Acajou d’Afrique’s strength and durability make it suitable for load-bearing structures and panels. It can be used for beams, columns, and other structural components, as well as for wall panels and flooring.
• Exterior joinery (building facade): Acajou d’Afrique’s moisture and weather resistance makes it a good choice for exterior joinery such as windows, doors cladding, or even shipbuilding.
• Carpentry and interior fittings: Machinability and fine grain make Acajou d’Afrique wood usable for stairs, moldings, and other architectural elements as well as for furniture and cabinets. Wood’s natural beauty and ability to be stained and finished in a variety of ways make it a versatile choice for interior design.

K-TIMBER – Supplier of Bulk Acajou d’afrique Wood from Africa

K-TIMBER is a leading supplier of Acajou d’Afrique wood from Africa. We offer a variety of African hardwoods, including Padauk, Mussivi, Doussie, Iroko, etc., with wood quality up to 90%.

Why choose us? 

• Variety of products: We offer a variety of Acajou d’Afrique wood products to meet your needs. Whether you need sawn timber for furniture, plywood for construction, or veneer for decorative purposes, we have the wood you need.
• Sustainable supply: We source our wood from sustainably managed tropical forests. This ensures that the wood meets quality standards when it reaches our customers.
• High-quality standards: Our wood is inspected and processed strictly to meet the highest quality standards. K-TIMBER commits to almost zero wood waste, wick, and heartwood, which helps customers save up to 40% of costs.
• Commitment to sustainability: We are committed to sustainable forestry practices. We work with local communities to ensure that forests are managed responsibly. We also support forest planting and restoration initiatives.

If you are looking to buy Acajou d’Afrique wood in bulk, contact K-TIMBER today. We will be happy to help you find the wood you need.