Iroko

Iroko is a very tough, durable wood that has been traditionally used in a multitude of applications in its native Africa. Its golden to medium brown color, course texture and interlocked grains give it an appearance very similar to that of Teak; although it is significantly less dense, it has been utilized in Africa in many of the same functions / duties that Teak has in other parts of the world. Despite its toughness (and interlocked grains), it is generally not difficult to work; it glues and finishes well.
This species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Why We Love This Wood
Iroko tends to darken with age. It is resistant to both rot and insect infestation, which makes it particularly well-suited for a variety of outdoor applications. This very tough wood has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Although its typically interlocked grains can pose challenges, at times, when working, the wood glues and finishes well
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Vital Statistics
Main Color Group | Medium Brown |
Grain Pattern | Even |
Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF | 3.4 |
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 660 |
Janka Hardness - LBF | 1260 |
Janka Hardness - N | 5610 |
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Iroko
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Other Species
Gorgeous colors and grain patterns have resulted in the exploitation of this beautiful species for use in production of “Hongmu” furniture. It looks similar in appearance to Kiaat/Muninga, another member of the Pterocarpus genus. We only have a few hundred BF of this endangered species left and don’t expect to get any more when it runs out.
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Take care to use good dust collection and a dust mask, as the fungal spores add more to the air than dust alone.
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boxmaking, cabinetry, crafting, flooring, furniture