IROKO

Iroko is a hardwood sourced from the tropical regions of Africa. It’s a strong, dense and very durable hardwood timber that is suitable for a variety of purposes ranging from veneering and flooring to furniture making. Because of its similarities to teak, Iroko is often called African Teak, though it’s completely unrelated to the teak family.

• Color: Heartwood is usually a yellow to golden or medium brown, with color tending to darken over time.
• Sapwood: Clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
• Texture: Medium to coarse
• Grain: Interlocked.
• Interlocked grain: Slight
• Moisture Content: 12-14% + AD
• Weight About: 650-850 kg/m3
• Origin: Angola
• Minimum Order: 25 m3
• Supply Ability: 20000 m3/Month

Description

Iroko is a hardwood species and is commonly found in tropical Africa. The trees are about 30-40 m tall and have a 1-1.5 m trunk diameter. The large size of the trees makes the wood sustainable and it possesses good durability properties. The wood is known by different names in different regions, some of which include Odum, kambala, bang, moreira, tule, mvule, and Chlorophora excelsa (scientific name). It hails from the Moraceae and Regia family. It has an average dried weight of 41 lbs/ft3 and Janka hardness of 1,260 lbf (5,610 N). Iroko is a strong and durable hardwood suitable for all kinds of wood projects. Excelsa and Regia are the two most common species of Iroko, both of which share similar characteristics.

In terms of appearance, Iroko heartwood is yellow when freshly cut but turns golden or medium brown upon exposure to light. The wood colour gets darker over time. The sapwood is pale yellow and easily distinguishable from the heartwood. The wood has a medium or coarse texture, with an interlocked grain and open large pores. The dried weight of Iroko is about 660 kg/m3. Drying iroko is fairly easy and quick and the wood doesn’t distort or split during the process. Iroko wood is particularly known for its outstanding strength and durability, which even makes it superior to teak. It is very durable in terms of resistance to both rot and insect attack. Working with iroko wood is fairly easy, though the presence of interlocked grain can sometimes cause tear-outs during surfacing. It glues, nails, screws and finishes well.

Uses of Iroko

Iroko is imported from Africa and is moderately priced for imported wood. It is commonly bought in the forms of timber, veneer and logs. Iroko is used in all kinds of woodworking projects, from basic construction jobs to furniture making, flooring, veneering, and various other projects. Due to its high durability, Iroko hardwood is suitable for outdoor projects and marine projects like boat building, piling and ships. Other uses of iroko lumber include interior and exterior joinery, window sills, frames, carvings, doors, stair treads, benches, cabinetry, turned items, and specialty wood items.