The World Of Wood: Africa
WoodWise

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With access to a vast and varied supply of domestic lumber, American woodworkers have it made. But despite our country’s arboreous assets, furniture makers and buyers alike remain drawn to exotic woods. Much of this foreign lumber hails from Africa, a continent home to stunning woods like wenge and bubinga.

As is typical with exotic lumber, African woods are sold by specialty dealers, both online and off. I've found Woodfinder and eBay to be handy resources in tracking down sellers. Natural edge slabs (those with the bark still attached) and planed boards are usually obtainable, albeit far costlier than domestic hardwoods. For most woodworkers, solid exotic woods are a luxury item — and being a frugal breed, they instead opt to use exotic veneers. When applied to MDF or plywood, these thin strips provide all the appearance of solid wood at a fraction of the weight and a sliver of the cost. (For an introduction to veneering, see my earlier post "Wood Veneer Demystified".)

While veneering is also an efficient use of lumber, deforestation remains a grave concern for the sub-Sahara. The illegal logging of old-growth forests not only threatens indigenous wildlife and our environment at large — it also stokes political conflict in a region in desperate need of stability and reconciliation. When next shopping for cabinets, hardwood flooring or even a guitar, check out the Rainforest Action Network's list of endangered tree species or the Friends of the Earth's useful guide to determine which types to avoid. Check out some of my favorite African woods below...

Bubinga – Bubinga is a true luxury lumber. Known also as African rosewood, it's used to make musical instruments, fine furniture and other high-end products. In fact, Japanese automaker Lexus offers the West African wood as an interior trim in its newer models. Prized for its remarkable figuring (see above), curly or “waterfall” bubinga is wildly expensive.

padauk green sahara.jpg Padauk – Padauk is a blood-orange colored wood native to Central and West Africa. It is treasured by turners for use in bowl and handle making. Padauk's heft also appeals to luthiers, particularly in the making of electric guitar bodies. It yields a gorgeous natural finish, gradually darkening to a rich reddish brown.

Sapele – Also found in Central and West Africa, sapele is most commonly used in hardwood flooring and cabinetry. Furniture and guitar makers also love the lumber for its striking figure. Cadillac too has caught on, selling the new CTS with optional sapele trim. But buyer beware, the Rainforest Action Network states this wood is "heavily exploited" though "some populations [are] protected".

Wenge – Contemporary furniture makers love wenge for its sleek, straight-grain figuring and coffee colored tone. But many woodworkers avoid it at all costs—dust and minuscule splinters irritate the eyes and skin. If you do use wenge, be sure to wear gloves and respiratory protection.

(Images: 1 Afroxyl , 2 Tropical Exotic Hardwoods , 3 Green Sahara Furniture, 4 Official Zootman, 5 Corporate Interiors)

Johnny is currently blogging his experience as a student and amateur woodworker. You can keep track of his projects on his blog, Woodlearner.

Comments (6)

While beautiful and worthwhile in terms of design, there are far too many problems- ethically and environmentally to commercially use this wood. While I am glad to see AT cite these problems with deforestation, this post is aimed at identification and consumption- which to me is problematic. We do not need to use developing world resources- let them use it!

Eh, I don't know. If Africa does it right, they could make a lot of money from exporting their wood. And when I say "does it right", I mean taking into consideration its people, the environment, legal issues etc. let them use it indeed, to their advantage of course.

I'm a little confused as to the purpose of this post too - confused and, well, disappointed. What next, AT? A fleeting reference to the horrors of the fur trade, followed by a shopping guide and an 'Ocolet V Tabby' pelt preference poll?

I just think it is sad how we treat the land. We come in and destroy but we need to use what we have. Until we stand together it is going to keep happening. It has to stop because nature will always have it's due. Where I live now because these huge houses have been built we flood every time it rains.

Being from a third world country, I have to say that there is no such thing as a sustainable use of solid woods. It´s impossible to stop illegal logging, unless we start rejecting the use of wood. Logging and deforestation is the main cause of extensive human and natural tragedies, from floods to desertification, and the end of the environment for regional economies all over the world.
I know that it´s one of the finest materials, and I love solid wood, but maybe we should use very carefully only industrial plywoods, mdf and veneer, and recycled old wood.
I´d rather have the solid wood on the tree, alive.

Bubinga is my favorite wood to use for woodworking. It has a sweet smell to the resin like strawberry jello. And is one of the strongest woods I've used. It does however have a tendency to chip when planed however. It is always quarter sawn because it had the tendency to warp as it dries. It also finishes like nobody's business, with lovely gold highlights.

Are you planning on including ebonies in a different category?

The main problem with deforestation isn't the exporting of exotic woods. It is the slash and burn methods used by farmers and cattle ranchers. The meat industry is responsible for nearly a third of the co2 emissions and the majority or deforestation, esp in south america. Aside from wenge, these woods are rarely manufactured into furniture because of the high prices. There are also some examples of exotic woods being highly guarded by the local governments, Pink Ivory for example.