Know your wood: Afromosia

Afromosia

A moderately colored swatch of Afromosia, as displayed in The Wood Explorer.

Trade Name: Afromosia.

Genus: Pericopsis angolensis

Janka Hardness (pounds-force): 2524

Description: Afromosia is a medium sized tree with irregularly peeling bark. The writings here refer specifically to Pericopsis angolensis. Afrormosia is similarly named, but it is different species, found in a different part of Africa. Each is of the Genus Pericopsis, and is broadly marketed as African teak, though each of these species is of the family Leguminosae. This wood has appeal in European and the United Kingdom markets due to its relative ease of availability. Deeply colored and textured, with interlocked and distinct figuring.

Location: Central African Republic, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zaire, Zimbabwe.

Common Aliases: Afrormosia angolensis (see above), Ormosia angolensis, Chianga, East African afrormosia, Mbanga, Muwanga, Mwanga, Umbanga.

Performance: Cuts well, but does not plane quite so easily due to the wildly contrasting nature of the product. Afromosia has a distinct aroma to it. Afromosia has above average durability regarding moisture, and average repellence to insects. Afromosia cuts fairly well, but can be somewhat difficult to plane due to the interlocking nature of the grain. Afromosia is a very hard wood that will require pre-boring of fastening features. Afromosia is a stable, hard, high quality lumber.

Affordability: $$$$ Pretty expensive here in the US, though deals can be found in bulk.

Common Uses: Furnishings, flooring, boat building, joinery, plywood, railroad ties, tool handles, turnery, veneers, wheels, decks, carvings, crates, cabinetry.

From: The Wood Explorer:

Common Name(s): Afromosia
Scientific Name: Pericopsis angolensis
Distribution: Central Africa
Tree Size: 80-120 ft tall, 2-3.5 ft trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 43 lbs/ft3
Basic Specific Gravity: .705
Hardness: 2,524 lbf
Rupture Strength: 14879 lbf/in2
Elastic Strength: 1,923,000 lbf/in2
Crushing Strength: 10,755 lbf/in2
Shrinkage: Radial: 2%, Tangential: 4%, T/R Ratio: 2.0