The Wonderful World of Wood:

Obeche:

  • "Triplochiton scleroxylon"

Other Names:

  • Obechi,arere(Nigeria)
  • wawa(Ghana)
  • samba,wawa(Ivory Coast)
  • ayous(Cameroons).

Sources:

  • West Africa.

Tree Characteristics:

  • A large heavily buttressed tree, reaching more than 150ft in height and producing a trunk some 5ft in diameter.

Characteristics of the wood:

  • A lightweight relatively strong wood with fine even texture,though the grain can be interlocking
  • A rather featureless wood, it is creamy white to pale yellow in colour with little distinction between the sapwood and the heartwood.
  • It is not a naturally durable wood.

Workability:

  • An easy wood to work with hand and machine tools, but requires sharp cutting edges as it is rather soft. It glues well.

Average dried weight:

  • 24lb/cuft.

Finishing:

  • It takes stain and polish well.

Common uses:

  • Interior joinery.
  • Draw linings.
  • Furniture.
  • Plywood.
  • Model making.

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