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Ebony is one of the premium and expensive timbers, which is primarily used for making high-quality furniture, cabinets, musical instruments, and other wood objects. black ebony wood has over 10 species, scattered around different parts of the world. One thing that is common in almost all ebony wood types is their dense structure and high durability.

Whether you are looking to buy the best quality ebony or just want to know more about one of the strongest timbers in the world, you’re at the right place.

CameroonTimberExportSarl is a premium exporter of top quality African timber species and wood logs to woodworkers all over the world. Contact us to know mor e about our wood species, availability and prices.

Ebony Timber Introduction

Ebony is a hardwood found in many parts of the world. It’s strong and has good resistance to termites and insect attacks. Ebony has a natural black or dark brown color, which looks good on any object made from it. The stripes of the wood are generally black or dark brown. The Janka score of the hardest Brazilian ebony is 3,690, which makes it one of the strongest woods on the planet.

Some of the most famous species of Ebony include Gaboon Ebony (African Ebony), Macassar Ebony, Brown Ebony, Ceylon Ebony, Mauritius Ebony, and others.

Ebony trees have an average height of 20-30 feet and a lifespan of more than 500 years.  The wood is so hard and dense that it does not float on top of the water.

Ebony lumber  is not always readily available and can be very expensive depending on the demand and availability in a specific region.

Ebony Wood Properties: Pros & Cons

There are some properties that almost all the ebony wood types share. These include hardness, durability, termite resistance, and appearance.

Appearance/color: Ebony can be easily distinguished based on its unique appearance and color. It has a natural dark appearance, with color ranging from jet black to dark brown, depending on the species.

Durability: Ebony timber is known for its dense structure and high durability, which make the wood quite resistant to insects, termites and moisture. Furniture and other objects made from ebony require little maintenance and would easily last a hundred or more years.

Strength and Hardness: Ebony is a really hard wood and has great strength. In fact, hardness is one of the main ways to identify ebony. The wood is ideal to be used in places with high load requirements.

Ebony grain and texture: Ebony generally has a straight grain with uniform texture, which makes it both attractive and easy to work with.

Workability: Though most species of Ebony have a straight, uniform grain pattern, some might have irregular grain, which can sometimes make it difficult to work, especially with hands and small tools. However, it works fine with electric machines and is easy to glue, paint, and polish.

The biggest disadvantage of Ebony wood is its high price because of its rare availability.

Availability: Even though Ebony has over 10 species and grows in all parts of the world, its slow growth rate (12 to 24 years) is the reason behind its scarce availability.  Also, the wood is produced by limited manufacturers, it is not readily available and is very expensive.

Price: Ebony is one of the most expensive woods in the world. Since it has outstanding durability and strength properties, it is always in high demand. But, the limited supply of Ebony makes it expensive to buy.

From CameroonTimberExportSarl, you can buy top-quality African Ebony at the best price online. We provide doorstep delivery in Canada, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and all other countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Ebony Wood Types

Ebony has the following 10 major species:

1. Ceylon Ebony – evergreen, 60 to 85 feet tall, big leaves, jet-black heartwood, smooth texture, very durable and decay-resistant
Distribution: Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India

2. Gaboon Ebony/African ebony – evergreen, 16 to 60 feet tall, termite-proof, dark grey stripes
Distribution: African Savannah

3. Macassar Ebony – Up to 65 feet tall, wider brown streaks, easy to work with
Distribution: Sulawesi, Indonesia

4. Pale moon Ebony – Up to 115 feet tall, yellow fruits, yellow heartwood, pale white sapwood, black and white stripes, very durable, moderate insect resistance
Distribution: Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

5. Coromandel Ebony – jet black heartwood, light brown sapwood, leaves and bark have medicinal properties
Distribution: Sri Lanka and India

6. Mauritius Ebony – up to 65 feet tall, dark to light green leaves, black while heartwood, white sapwood, Straight grain, Moderate Rot Resistance
Distribution: Mauritius

7. Mun Ebony – black and brown stripes, medium brown heartwood, pale yellow sapwood, straight grain, uniform texture, low to medium rot resistance
Distribution: Vietnam and Laos

8. Myrtle Ebony – Up to 130 feet tall, white and red flowers
Distribution: Queensland, Australia

9. Queensland Ebony – used for cabinet making, low to medium rot-resistant
Distribution: coast of Queensland and Northern NSW

10. Brazilian ebony – 50 to 75 feet tall, very hard, heavy, straight grain, nearly black color,
Distribution: Brazil

Ebony Wood Uses

This wood is exclusively treated for making premium quality, expensive objects, including furniture items, musical instruments, turned objects, and decorative objects.

Ebony is a wood of choice for making high-quality, durable furniture items that would last very long. Since it is strong and looks really good, it is the perfect choice for making domestic use items. However, the high cost and rare availability of few types of ebony make it not so suitable for general use items.

It is extensively used for making musical instruments and parts, as it looks good, has outstanding strength and bends easily using steam bending.

However, because of the high cost of Ebony, Mahogany and Sapele are generally used as alternatives for making musical instruments.

Other than that, ebony wood type is also a great choice for building decorative objects. The wood has a fine texture and gives a great appearance and finishes well.

Looking for a reliable timber supplier to buy different types of Ebony wood from? Contact CameroonTimberExportSarl to explore and choose from our wide range of the best quality timber species offered at the lowest price with worldwide delivery.

While the sapwood is the outermost portion of a wood log and the first thing you see when you start cutting a tree, the heartwood is the inner wood present in the centre of a wood log and usually the most precious and useful part of it.

In this article, we will discuss in detail about heartwood vs sapwood, including the various differences between the two in terms of color, uses, workability, strength, and other properties.

What is Heartwood?

Heartwood is the innermost part of the tree. It is formed after the older sapwood cells start dying with age and turn into the heartwood. This keeps happening as the tree grows older. The heartwood becomes denser while the sapwood is reduced to a thinner layer.

The Heartwood is mainly formed of dead cells. Besides the dead cells, additional chemical compounds are also present in the heartwood, which contribute to making it stronger, durable and more resistant and are also responsible for the heartwood’s darker color.

What is Sapwood?

Sapwood is the outer part of a tree trunk. You can see it by removing the bark from a tree. It is formed by a thin layer of living cells called cambium. Sapwood is responsible for carrying water and minerals through the tree, from the roots to the tree crown.

Sapwood is almost always light-colored and is formed by new, living cells.

Heartwood vs Sapwood

Generally, it is possible to distinguish heartwood from sapwood based on the color, but not always.

Let’s talk about the various differences between sapwood and heartwood based on colors, uses and other factors.

Color

In most cases, the color of heartwood is dark brown to red, depending on the wood species. In some species such as mahogany, the color of heartwood darkens with age.

Most of the time, the color of sapwood is light yellow or white. The light color of sapwood is because of the high moisture content and the presence of living cells.

Strength & Durability

Heartwood is almost always stronger than sapwood. It contains little to zero moisture and has chemical compounds that can add to the wood strength. The durability and rot resistance of heartwood is also generally high. Because of their strength, heartwoods need less maintenance compared to sapwood.

Sapwood is not very strong and also not very durable or resistant to fungi and insect attacks. This is because of the high moisture content in the sapwood. It needs a lot of maintenance and can start rotting soon after coming in contact with moisture.

Workability

Heartwood is almost always the first preference for any woodworking project. This is because the wood is stronger, harder and has good resistance properties. It has a good appearance, can survive for a long time and needs little maintenance. However, because of hardness, not all sapwood species may be easy to work with.

Sapwood is not always a popular choice for woodworking. However, it’s used in some projects (mentioned below). The wood is rather soft and very easy to work with.

Difference Between Heartwood and Sapwood Based on Uses

As mentioned before, the heartwood is stronger and denser than sapwood. Also, it has more durability and exhibits resistance to decay, rot and insect attack. All these properties make heartwood perfect for use in furniture making, flooring, roofing, and a variety of other woodworking projects. It is also commonly used for plywood, boat building, musical instruments, turned objects, and more.

Sapwood is not as strong or beautiful as heartwood, which is why it is not generally used in modern woodworking projects. However, the use of sapwood in combination with heartwood or for making small parts of a bigger object can be seen. Also, beginners use sapwood to practice woodworking, as it is not expensive and is easily available.

Sapwood generally has a higher moisture content, which makes it not so suitable for woodworking. It is also more vulnerable to fungi and decay. Also, drying sapwood makes it shrink and reduces density.

These are some of the major heartwood vs sapwood differences by which you can clearly distinguish each other To purchase the best quality hardwood in all leading African timber species, contact CameroonTimberExportSarl. We export wood timber and logs to customers worldwide with a 100% quality guarantee.

African Mahogany vs Sapele, Here is a brief comparison between two of the most famous and hot-selling African timber species. Sapele is often used as a mahogany substitute because it looks the same and has properties similar to African Mahogany.

Here at CameroonTimberExportSarl, we have plenty of stock of both Mahogany and Sapele, which can be exported to your location anywhere in the world. CameroonTimberExportSarl is your best source to buy top quality African Mahogany at wholesale prices. All our timber is sourced from local timber producers who follow the best quality and sustainability guidelines.

If you are looking to know more about Mahogany and Sapele, along with their differences, you’re at the right place.

African Mahogany Vs Sapele

Traditionally, the price of African Mahogany has generally been higher compared to Sapele because of its high demand and extraordinary properties. However, Sapele has also been in high demand lately. Let’s discuss the difference between these two based on properties, demand, availability, price, color, and other factors.

#1 Differentiation On The Basis Of Properties

African Mahogany, also known as Khaya, has its distribution limited to West tropical Africa. Its tree is about 100-130 ft tall and has a 3-5 ft trunk diameter. Mahogany heartwood color may range from pale pink to dark red and sometimes has medium to dark red-brown streaks on it. The wood grain is straight to interlocked and the texture is medium to coarse. Mahogany is moderately durable to moisture and has decent rot/insect resistance.

Sapele is a hardwood found in tropical Africa. It’s tree is about 100-150 ft tall and has a trunk diameter of 3-5 ft. The heartwood is golden to dark red, with its color darkening with age. Ribbon-like and other patterns are common on quartersawn Sapele boards. The wood has interlocked or wavy grain with fine uniform texture. It is classified as very durable and has moderate insect resistance.

Hardness & Color

While African Mahogany has a Janka Hardness of 1,070 lbf (4,760 N), Sapele has 1,410 lbf (6,280 N) Janka rating, which makes Sapele harder than mahogany.

Workability & Drying

Mahogany is generally very easy to dry. Sapele, on the other hand, is difficult to dry, especially in the quartersawn.

Mahogany may have interlocked grain, which sometimes makes tearing difficult. However, it’s generally easy to work, and glues and finishes well. Sapele also has interlocked grain, which can lead to difficulty in machining operations. Also, the wood is known to react with iron, which leads to discoloration and staining. It’s easy to glue and finish.

#2 Differentiation On The Basis Usage

Mahogany is one of the most popular and used woods for both exterior and interior works. However, it has limited resistance to moisture and insect attacks, which is why it’s preferred for interior, veneering, plywood, furniture, and turned items. It is also commonly used for boat building.

Sapele is hard, heavy and quite dense and is the most suitable wood for flooring and exterior projects. Other common uses of Sapele timber include veneering, plywood, furniture, cabinetry, turned objects, boatbuilding, musical instruments, and other specialty wood items.

#3 Differentiation On The Basis Availability & Price

African Mahogany is available with a number of wood sellers and exporters and is rather easy to find if you know where to look. At CameroonTimberExportSarl, we sell Mahogany in a variety of custom timber sizes as well as mahogany slabs. Mahogany prices with CameroonTimberExportSarl are the lowest in the world.

Sapele is not as easily available as mahogany and can be priced moderate to expensive, depending on where you buy it from. We have the best-quality Sapele timber available in plainsawn, quartersawn, and veneer forms, which you can buy at wholesale prices right now.

Call us or send an email to info@cameroontimberexport.com to enquire about our timber species and place an order online in minutes. We deliver timber all over Europe and the Middle East, including UAE, Malaysia, Canada, Vietnam, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Panama.

Water resistant wood or waterproof timber refers to wood that has basic or advanced water resistant properties. In other words, water resistant timber can survive in normal rainy conditions without going bad. This type of wood is particularly useful for making outdoor furniture, boats, ships, decks, and outdoor flooring.

Just because rain or excess water can harm wood doesn’t mean you cannot or should not use wood for outdoor furniture and similar purposes. This is where timber waterproofing comes in.

While some timber species useful for outdoor use are naturally water resistant, others can be treated to add waterproofing abilities to them.

Factors To Consider When Selecting Water Resistant Timber

Moisture Content

The moisture content in wood is an important factor to consider. Normally, wood has about 20-30% moisture content, which can increase when the wood is continuously exposed to moisture or rain without prior treatment.

Oxygen Content

The higher the oxygen content in the wood, the higher will be the probability for it to rot in the presence of moisture.

Maintenance Needs

Some timber species need more maintenance compared to others and can start rotting in the constant presence of water if not maintained properly.

Wood Species

As we mentioned before, some wood species are more water resistant than others. So, select your wood wisely and only after considering all your requirements.

Top Waterproof Timber Species

Following are some of the best timber species that are naturally resistant to water and moisture and are suitable for rainy places.

1. Afrormosia

Afrormosia is an Africa-native hardwood that is commonly used as an alternative to teak, mainly because of its outstanding durability and resistant capabilities. The timber is widely used for making outdoor flooring, patio furniture, boats, etc. And it costs nearly half the price of teak.

2. Teak

Teak Wood is one of the most popular and widely used hardwood species. It also has extraordinary moisture resistance, which makes it the preferred choice for outdoor furniture, boats and flooring. However, the price is generally higher than alternatives.

3. Cedar

Cedar also has decent wood resistance. However, cedar has many varieties, with different cedar species having different resistance capabilities.

4. Mahogany

Natural mahogany is very durable and has good resistance to moisture and rot. It is usable both indoors and out.

5. Oak

Some species of oak, including white oak, are rated as very durable and show outstanding resistance to water. This is why they are widely used for boatbuilding.

6. Redwood

Redwood is primarily used for making furniture that shows great durability and is particularly attractive in appearance.

How To Make Wood Waterproof (Timber Waterproofing Methods)

Wood treatment is the process of externally treating the timber to enhance its natural properties, including water resistance, rot resistance, strength, and durability. The following four methods are known to help increase the water resistance capability of wood.

Waterproof Staining

Staining refers to the process of using stains to color the wood to make it waterproof to some extent. Waterproofing stains are usually made by combining a sealing agent with the dye. Depending on the type and quality of stain, it can make the wood waterproof for up to many years.

Waterproofing Sealing

In the sealing process, sealants are used instead of stains. Sealing only provides resistance to moisture but not so much for heavy water exposure or rains.

Waterproofing Finishing

Finishing is another commonly used method to provide water protection to wood intended for outdoor furniture and floors. This involves finishing the wood using a specialised coloring agent that adds both a new glossy layer to the wood as well as enhances its resistance to water and rot.

Waterproofing Stabilizers

Wood Stabilizers work differently than finish or stain. They do not make the wood durable on the outside but react chemically with the alkali inside the wood in order to make the wood more waterproof. Also, it is organic and, therefore, safe for humans.

How To Protect The Wood From Water/Moisture Damage?

Besides staining or sealing the wood, there are a number of things you can do to ensure a long life for your patio furniture and outdoor flooring. These include:

Regular Maintenance: Even though the outdoor furniture and decks are usually made with water-resistance wood, taking good care of them is important to ensure a long life. Besides regular cleaning, you need to keep the moisture away from wood. If the furniture has become wet, clean or wipe it immediately. If there are open pores in the wood, use paint or polish to close them.

Use covers: Using a plastic cover on your outdoor furniture and wood objects, especially during rain and extreme heat, is another good way to protect the timber from damage and ensure a long life.

To buy the best quality water and rot resistant wood, timber and slabs at the lowest price online with doorstep delivery to your location, contact CameroonTimberExportSARL.

What Are The Different Types of Hardwood  Species?

Hardwood is one of the two most common types of wood, with softwood being the other. It is the wood produced by dicot trees and found in temperate and tropical forests. In Africa and beyond, there are hundreds of hardwood species found and used. In this article, we will talk about top hardwood types/species that are commonly used and exported by us.

Here at CameroonTimberExport Sarl, we deal in a wide range of hardwood species. Before you choose wood for your particular project, make sure to read about the different types of hardwood to make a sound decision. Here are a few details about the most popular hardwood properties of different species that we sell/export at CameroonTimberExport.

Types of Hardwood Species

Afrormosia	Bilinga	Azobe
Black Limba (Frake)	Bubinga	Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata)
African Mahogany	Makore	Meranti
Niangon	Okan	Okoume
African Padauk	Sapele	Teak
Merbau	Moabi	Movingui
Wenge	Zebrawood	Zebrano
Afzelia (doussie)	Black Ebony	Iroko

 

Some of the Most Common Types of Hardwood Species For Woodworking

Afrormosia Hardwood Properties

 

Common Name(s)	Afrormosia, Afromosia, African Teak
Scientific Name	Pericopsis elata
Distribution	West Africa
Tree Size	100-150 ft (30-46 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Color	yellowish-brown
Grain/Texture	straight, can also be interlocked
Resistance/Durability	very durable
Workability	Easy to work
Price/Availability	medium to high
Uses	Boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture

 

Azobe Hardwood Properties

 

Common Name(s)	Ekki, Azobe
Scientific Name	Lophira alata
Distribution	West Africa
Tree Size	100-150 ft (30-46 m) tall, 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m) trunk Diameter
Color	Dark reddish or violet brown
Grain/Texture	interlocked, with a coarse texture
Resistance/Durability	very durable
Workability	Difficult to work
Price/Availability	medium to high
Uses	Bridges, marine applications, decking, boatbuilding, and flooring

 

Bubinga Hardwood Properties

 

Common Name(s)	Bubinga, Kevazingo
Scientific Name	Guibourtia spp. (G. demeusei, G. pellegriniana, G. tessmannii)
Distribution	Equatorial Africa
Tree Size	130-150 ft (40-45 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-2 m) trunk diameter
Color	pinkish red to a darker reddish-brown
Grain/Texture	straight to interlocked
Resistance/Durability	moderately durable to very durable
Workability	Easy to work
Price/Availability	moderately priced
Uses	Veneer, cabinetry, turnings, inlays, fine furniture, and other specialty items

 

Black Ebony

 

Common Name(s)	Gaboon Ebony, African Ebony, Nigerian Ebony, Cameroon Ebony
Scientific Name	Diospyros crassiflora
Distribution	Equatorial West Africa
Tree Size	50-60 ft (15-18 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter
Color	jet-black
Grain/Texture	straight but can also be interlocked
Resistance/Durability	very durable
Workability	Difficult to work
Price/Availability	very expensive
Uses	Small/ornamental items, such as piano keys, pool cues, carvings, musical instrument parts, and other small specialty items

 

Iroko Hardwood Properties

 

Common Name(s)	Iroko
Scientific Name	Milicia excelsa, M. regia (syn. Chlorophora excelsa, C. regia)
Distribution	Tropical Africa
Tree Size	100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Color	yellow to golden or medium brown
Grain/Texture	medium to coarse texture
Resistance/Durability	very durable
Workability	Easy to work
Price/Availability	moderate price
Uses	Veneer, flooring, boatbuilding, turned items, furniture, cabinetry, and other small specialty wood items

 

African Mahogany Hardwood

 

Common Name(s)	African Mahogany
Scientific Name	Khaya spp. (Khaya anthotheca, K. grandifoliola, K. ivorensis, K. senegalensis)
Distribution	West tropical Africa
Tree Size	100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Color	very pale pink to a deeper reddish-brown
Grain/Texture	straight to interlocked grain, with a medium to coarse texture
Resistance/Durability	moderately durable
Workability	Easy to work
Price/Availability	low to moderate
Uses	Veneer, furniture, boatbuilding, plywood, turned items, and interior trim

 

Makore Hardwood

 

Common Name(s)	Makore
Scientific Name	Tieghemella heckelii, T. africana
Distribution	Western and Middle Africa (from Sierra Leone to Gabon)
Tree Size	180-200 ft (55-60 m) tall, 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) trunk diameter
Color	Heartwood pink or reddish-brown
Grain/Texture	straight grain
Resistance/Durability	very durable
Workability	easy to work
Price/Availability	mid-range
Uses	Veneer, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding, plywood, furniture, turned objects, musical instruments, and other small wooden specialty items

 

African Padauk Hardwood Species

 

Common Name(s)	African Padauk, Vermillion
Scientific Name	Pterocarpus soyauxii
Distribution	Central and tropical west Africa
Tree Size	100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter
Color	pale pinkish-orange to a deep brownish-red
Grain/Texture	straight
Resistance/Durability	excellent decay resistance, durable to very durable
Workability	Easy to work
Price/Availability	moderately priced
Uses	Veneer, musical instruments, furniture, flooring, turned objects, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects

 

Sapele Hardwood Properties

 

Common Name(s)	Sapele, Sapelli, Sapeli
Scientific Name	Entandrophragma cylindricum
Distribution	Tropical Africa
Tree Size	100-150 ft (30-45 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Color	golden to dark reddish-brown
Grain/Texture	interlocked and sometimes wavy
Resistance/Durability	moderately durable to very durable
Workability	troublesome to work with machines
Price/Availability	moderately priced
Uses	Veneer, cabinetry, flooring, plywood, furniture, turned objects, boatbuilding, musical instruments, and other small wooden specialty items

 

Teak wood Properties

 

Common Name(s)	Teak
Scientific Name	Tectona grandis
Distribution	tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Tree Size	100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Color	golden or medium brown
Grain/Texture	straight
Resistance/Durability	high resistance, very durable
Workability	Easy to work
Price/Availability	very expensive
Uses	Ship and boat building, exterior construction, carving, veneer, furniture, turnings, and other small wood objects

 

We supply wood logs, sawn timber and wood slabs in all the hardwood species listed above. If you need more information about our hardwoods, quality, and price, feel free to contact us.

When you are out in the market looking to buy wood for construction, firewood or any other purpose, it helps to know about the different types of wood so that you can make the right decision.

Not all woods that we see around us, in objects like furniture, tabletops, etc., are solid wood. Because of the increasing cost and scarce availability of natural wood, the concept of manufactured or engineered wood has become very popular in recent years.

Based on your particular woodworking project and/or requirements, you can go with either solid or manufactured wood, given that you know the differences between the two. So, manufactured wood vs solid wood: which is better? well to answer this question we must first understand about both types of wood.

What is Solid Wood?

Solid Wood is the natural lumber that we get from trees. Traditional lumber has been in use for making furniture, wood objects, crafted items, etc. for centuries. However, the scarce availability of this type of wood in recent years has forced us to use manufactured wood instead.

Based on origin and growth, solid lumber can be divided into two major types: hardwood and softwood.

Solid type of wood obtained from trees is cut into timber, which is then used for making furniture, flooring, doors, and other purposes. Common and most used types of solid lumber include oak, maple, mahogany, birch, ash, pine, teak, rosewood, and cherry.

The easiest way to identify natural wood is by its grain structure, which is beautiful and unique. Grain structures of two different wood species are never alike. Solid lumber is durable and strong and usually has good resistance to moisture, insects and rot. Another way to identify wood is by its color, which may range from light yellow to dark brown or red, depending on the species. Solid wood obtained from natural jungles is non-renewable and therefore costly.

What is Manufactured Wood?

Engineered or manufactured wood is a product that looks and acts similar to wood, but is manufactured in factories/laboratories instead of being obtained from natural trees.

Since there is only so much natural wood available in the world, the price of solid wood furniture is generally very high and cannot be afforded by everyone. This gave birth to the concept of manufactured wood.

Plywood, HDF (high-density fibreboard), particleboard, veneered board, and MDF (medium-density fibreboard) all are examples of engineered woods. These are easily available and cost effective.

Engineered wood is manufactured by adding two or more different materials, including particles, veneers, fibres, and thin wood boards, together. The use of engineered wood is common in a variety of low-cost woodworking projects, ranging from furniture to plywood, windows, doors, desks, kitchens, bookshelves, wardrobes, and others. Surfaces of items are furnished with solid wood layers or veneers to achieve a more natural look. These are usually water-resistant and easy to clean and work with.

Veneered boards have natural wood veneer on surfaces, which make them look and feel exactly like real wood.

Manufactured Wood Vs Solid Wood

Now that you have a good basic idea of solid lumber and manufactured wood, let’s discuss the various differences between the two, and which is most suited for what purpose.

Manufacturer

Solid timber wood is obtained directly from trees, while engineered wood is manufactured by combining different boards, participles, fibres, veneers, etc.

Types

Common examples of solid lumber include oak, pine, maple, teak, and mahogany. Common types of engineered wood include MDF, particleboard, plywood, and veneered board.

Durability and Life

Solid wood has high durability and objects last for decades. Composite wood is comparatively less durable with limited life.

Moisture Resistance

Solid lumber is resistant to moisture, but cannot stand up to constant exposure. Engineered wood is more resistant and can withstand exposure to moisture.

Hardness

Solid lumber may be very hard or soft, depending on the species. Manufacturer woods such as MDF and HDF are comparatively harder and denser.

Availability

Solid wood is non-renewable and trees might take years to grow again. Manufactured woods are easily available as well as environmentally sustainable.

Cost

Since natural wood is scarcely available and has high demand, it’s much more expensive compared to engineered wood, which is readily available.

Now that you know everything about the basic differences between solid and engineered wood, we hope you are ready to make better buying decisions for your woodworking projects. Most of the furniture and objects we see and use today are made from composite wood.

If you are looking to buy top-quality, all-natural solid lumber obtained sustainably from African forests, visit our official website to explore our wide range of African timber and wood species. We at CameroomTimberExportSarl are the largest supplier of raw African wood logs and timber to customers in over 15 countries and at the best price guaranteed.

Oak is a very popular hardwood used in a variety of projects, ranging from flooring to furniture, cabinetry, crafting, joinery, paneling, and decking. Though the use of oak timber is common since pre-colonial times, the wood is equally great for building modern pieces of stylish furniture. Because of its high durability, hardness and great looks, it is a first choice timber for woodworkers around the world. In this article, you can find in detail about the basic oak wood properties, characteristics and uses.

CameroonTimberExportSarl is a top supplier of premium quality oak wood logs and timber and provides delivery worldwide. Contact us to buy the best timber at an affordable price.

Oak Wood Properties & Characteristics

It is one of the most versatile, beautiful and useful woods. There are over 60 varieties of Oak, each with its own distinct color and hue. Of all types of oak, red and white are the most popular. It is a hardwood since it comes from a dicot or leafy tree. Hardwoods are generally stronger/harder than softwoods, but that may not always be the case.

Let’s dive deep into the different properties of oak wood.

Origin & Source

The wood comes from oak trees, which have numerous varieties. Even red oak can be further categorised into northern red, southern red oak tree, and other varieties based on the source tree location. Similarly, white oak can come from a variety of trees, including Quercus alba, Arizona white, or swamp white. These trees can grow up to 100 feet in height and have a diameter of around 50-inches.

Colour

Since it has many varieties, the colors may also vary significantly. While white oak has a beige-brownish hue, red oak has a darker, rosy color. Sometimes, two pieces from the same tree can have different colors based on where it has been extracted from. The sapwood is usually lighter than the heartwood, but not always.

The color may also darken with age, but the change is usually too subtle to notice.

Grain Texture

Another important property of oak wood is its grain texture, the grain pattern of this wood type is quite unique, which makes it rather easier to recognise. The wood has straight grain and an uneven texture, which can be identified easily. Specific species have specific grain texture. For instance, white oak has closed pores, which make the wood resistant to water. Red oak, on the other hand, has open pores. Another thing that is easy to notice in the grain of oak is the presence of dotted lines across the board. These are present in both red & white oak.

Strength & Resistance

Based on hardness, it is considered one of the strongest woods. White oak has a Janka rating of 1,360 while red oak has 1,290 Janka hardness. The higher the Janka rating, the harder the wood is. In terms of hardness, oak is superior to even walnut and cherry. More hardness means the furniture and items last longer and are sturdier.

Water resistance is another one of the major properties of oak wood, especially white oak which has decent resistance to water and damage because of its closed pores and higher Janka rating. The wood is quite durable and highly resistant to wear and tear insects, and fungal infestations. Oak wood furniture and construction have a fairly long life and will not go to landfill anytime soon, which also makes it eco-friendly. It can also be used as outdoor furniture because of its decent resistance to water and sunlight.

Workability

Oak is not only easy to recognise but also it’s quite easy to work with, which is another reason why woodworkers around the world prefer this timber type for furniture making. It stains, finishes, glues, and polishes well. The wood works easily with cutting tools and other machinery. It can be easily cut and split and is easy to use as a veneer. Because of its straight grain, nailing and screwing oak is also easy.

Because of high tannic acid content, it can sometimes react with iron, causing discoloration.

However, oak is rather heavy because of its high density.

Oak Wood Properties in a Nutshell

• Common Name(s): White Oak
• Scientific Name: Quercus alba
• Distribution: All over the world
• Tree Size: Up to 100 ft tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter
• Average Dried Weight: 47 lbs/ft3 (755 kg/m3)
• Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .60, .75
• Janka Hardness: 1,350 lbf (5,990 N)
• Modulus of Rupture: 14,830 lbf/in2 (102.3 MPa)
• Elastic Modulus: 1,762,000 lbf/in2 (12.15 GPa)
• Crushing Strength: 7,370 lbf/in2 (50.8 MPa)
• Shrinkage:Radial: 5.6%, Tangential: 10.5%, Volumetric: 16.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.9

Oak Wood Uses

Oak wood properties such as its strength, durability, and workability, makes it a common choice of timber for furniture-making as well as for flooring and other construction work. Basically, it can be used in a wide range of applications, ranging from basic work such as home construction to specialty projects like crafting and making kitchen appliances. Since white oak has decent resistance to water and moisture, it is also commonly used for making wine barrels and boats.

Other common uses of oak wood/timber include flooring, cabinetry, interior trim, boatbuilding, wine barrels, and veneering.

Where to Buy Solid Oak Timber Online

We at CameroonTimberExportSarl supply our sustainably-grown local and the best quality oak timber wood to dealers and individual woodworkers worldwide. We take pride in being one of the leading suppliers of oak wood in Central Africa. Our top-quality wood products combined with our top-notch service are made to fit your particular project needs and preferences.

If you are looking to buy top quality, authentic, and sustainable oak timber wood, contact us to shop now. For all your enquiries about the wood quality, availability, species and price, you can email us at info@cameroontimberexport.com or Whatsapp +237 683 37 5541.

Whether you are a professional woodworker, someone who works in construction, or are a wood enthusiast, the timber identification technique is the ability to identify one wood species from one another that might be valuable to you. There is no way you can learn to identify all kinds of lumber in just one day or by reading just one article, but this article about ‘the best ways to identify top & common wood species can be a good start.

Note that it may not always be possible to 100% correctly identify wood type, no matter how much knowledge or experience you have. As Eric Meier of Wood-database.com says, “The more accurate and thorough my identification process becomes, the more certain I become that I really cannot guarantee that I am correct.” Keep that in mind when you start your timber identification journey.

Timber Identification On Different Basis

There are multiple ways of Timber identification, which work best when used combinedly.

1. Identifying Wood Based on Solidity

Solidity is the characteristic of how solid the lumber is. Before we begin to identify the wood species, it is important to first confirm that it is actually solid wood or natural wood, and not manufactured by men. Here are some ways to do that:

• The endgrain of man-made or manufactured lumber is easily distinguishable from the endgrain of natural lumber.
• Real wood has growth rings clearly visible on freshly sawn surfaces.
• Veneered wood usually has repeating grain patterns.
• Check if it is plastic painted or printed to give a wood-like appearance.

2. Timber Identification Based on Color

Another quick and easy way of lumber identification is through its color and appearance. Here is how.

• Natural timber color vs stained: First of all, verify whether the color on the wood you’re trying to identify is natural or not.
• Weathered wood: Mostly, wood gets darker with age. So, if you’re trying to identify an aged/old wood, chances are the color would be darker (or occasionally lighter) than the original lumber color. The best way to confirm this is by sanding a corner of the wood item to unveil its original color.

3. Identify Wood Type Based on Grain

If the lumber is fresh or unfinished, it is possible to identify the type by looking at the wood grain. Here’s how.

• While most hardwoods have an open, porous texture (some exceptions such as maple are there), softwoods will generally have a perfectly smooth surface.
• Quartersawn vs plainsawn: Many times, it’s possible to identify wood grain patterns based on how the timber has been cut.
• Some wood species have unusual or specific figures on their freshly sawn surfaces, which make them easy to identify. Soft maple, for instance, has curly grain patterns located closely together.

4. Timber Identification Based on Weight & Hardness

The weight of one wood species will almost always be different from the weight of other species. So, you can identify timber based on its dry weight, hardness and density.

• If possible, try to weigh the wood and then compare it to commonly known wood species based on weight.
• Measure the lumber length, width, and thickness, and calculate its density in order to figure out weight per unit volume.
• To get an idea of the wood hardness, try cutting a corner with your fingernail.

5. Timber Identification Based on Origin & History

It is also completely possible to identify a wood based on its origin and history. So, ask yourself questions like where did the lumber come from and how old is it in order to find out the type.

• Based on the wood origin, it is possible to identify whether the wood was processed locally or imported from someplace else.
• If the wood came from a certain timber mill or carpenter, it is likely to identify the type based on the common types of wood that the mill or carpenter uses.
• Similarly, wood can be identified based on its age. Some species such as Brazilian Rosewood, for instance, are no longer commercially available because of CITES restrictions.

6. Other Timber Identification Factors – odor, uses, etc.

Wood can also be identified based on other factors such as odor and wood applications. For example, red oak and maple are usually the common choices for hardwood flooring. Similarly, many lumber species have their distinct scent, which can be used to identify them.

So, by now, you must have a quite good idea about how to identify wood type based on different factors such as weight, color, strength, hardness, uses, odor, etc. If you are still not sure, do contact us to help identify the type of your Timber.

CameroonTimberExportSarl is a top exporter and supplier of premium quality African wood timber and logs in Cameroon, Africa. You can buy all top quality African timber in a variety of species at wholesale price directly from us and get delivery to all locations anywhere in the world.

The timber species we supply include but are not limited to Afromosia, Anigree, Azobe, Bilinga, Bubinga, Black Limba, Doussie, Ebony, Ironwood, Iroko, Ekop-naga, Ekop-beli, Mahogany, Merbau, Makore, Meranti, Maobi, Okan, Ovangkol, Okoume, Rosewood, Pine wood, Padauk, Pachyloba, Sapele, Tali, Teak, Wenge, Zebrawood, and Zebrano.

For enquiries about price, availability, and delivery to your location, call us today +237 683 37 5541.