303.733.1292
800-692-WOOD(9663)
303.733.1292
800-692-WOOD(9663)
Botanical Name
Tieghemella Heckelii
Other Common Names
African Cherry, Baku, Babu, Abaku, Cherry Mahogany, Douka
Region
Found from Sierra Leone to Cameroon, Gabon, and south to Cabinda; widely distributed in the high rain forests.
The Tree
Reaches a height of 180 to 200 ft; boles straight, cylindrical, and clear to 100 ft, free of buttresses; trunk diameters generally about 4 ft but may be up to 10 ft.
Appearance
Heartwood pink to pink- or red brown; sapwood 2 to 3 in. wide, whitish or light pink, clearly demarcated.
Properties
Texture fine to medium; grain generally straight; lustrous; often found with an attractive mottle, curly, wavy and moire figures. Liable to stain in contact with iron when damp.
Working Properties
A high silica content causes blunting of cutting edges, particularly in dry wood; works reasonably well with hand and machine tools, good veneering properties, finishes well, good gluing properties. Fine dust may irritate nose and throat or cause dermatitis.
Uses
Furniture, cabinetwork, joinery, decorative veneers, paneling, boatbuilding, flooring, turnery, marine plywood.
Availability
Should be moderately priced for an import. Likely to be on par with other common African hardwoods such as Padauk or African Mahogany. Boards with figured grain patterns are likely to be much more expensive.