Makoré

The heartwood can vary from pink to rich red-brown, or from pinkish-red to blood-red. It is generally straight-grained, but can be interlocked, which produces a decorative mottled figure that sometimes has darker streaks. Figured wood can show a watered-silk pattern. The texture is normally uniform and ranges from medium to very fine. Makoré has a fine natural lustre.

Properties:

Makoré has low stiffness and resistance to shock loads, with medium bending and crushing strengths. The heartwood has good steam-bending qualities. The wood has a high silica content, which can exert a severe blunting effect on cutting edges, consequently making the wood difficult to work. Tungsten-carbide-tipped (TCT) saw blades are recommended. The wood planes, glues, sands, turns, moulds and mortises reasonably well, and requires pre-boring for nails and screws. Makoré stains well, and can be brought to an excellent finish, provided filler is used. Ferrous fastenings should be avoided, as they are liable to stain the wood blue.

Seasoning:

The wood dries at a slow to moderate rate, with little degrade. There might be slight twisting and minimal splitting around knots while drying. Makoré is stable in service.

Durability:

The heartwood is very durable and resistant to preservative treatment. The sapwood is vulnerable to attack from powder-post beetle and is moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Typical Uses:

Furniture and cabinetmaking, quality joinery, boatbuilding, laboratory benches, domestic flooring including parquet, and marine plywood. It is also sliced into decorative veneers for panelling and cabinetmaking.

Tieghemella heckelii and T. africana (Sapotaceae)

Syn.: Mimusops heckelii Also called:

African cherry, abacu, agamokwe, baku, douka, okolla. Not to be confused with Prunus africana or with niové (Staudtia stipitata), also known as African cherry

Grows:

West Africa

Weight per Board Foot:

3.2 lbs

Typical dry weight:

39lb/ft3 (620kg/m3)

Special Gravity:

.62

Typical Height:

120-150ft (36-45m)

Trunk Diameter:

4ft (1.2m)