Iroko
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Description
A wood produced from the Chlorophor excelsa tree native to Africa. Iroko is a medium weight wood with an open-grain texture. The color is a brown with yellow streaks. Iroko has been used for structures, ship building, cabinets, and furniture.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Chlorophor excelsa; mvule; African teak; iroko (Fr.); câmbala (Port.)
Risks
- Susceptible to wood borers.
- Skin contact may cause irritation.
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Heartwood is yellow to golden with dolor darkening over time; sapwood is a clearly paler yellow
- Grain is interlocked with open pores and a medium to coarse texture
- Wood is durable and sometimes used as a substitute for teak
- Density = 41 ppcf
Working Properties
- Generally easy to work, with the exception of its interlocked grain, which may cause some tearout during surfacing operations
- Deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters
- Glues and finishes well.
Resources and Citations
- The Wood Database: Iroko
- F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965 Comment: 41 ppcf
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=61 ppcf (0.98 g/cm3)