Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Iroko has been reported as a sensitizer. … Iroko can also cause other health effects in sensitive individuals, such as asthma-like symptoms, boils, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Is Iroko good for chopping boards?

This unique designed and hand finished product can be used in the kitchen as a beautiful but practical chopping board for all your needs. Due to its beautiful but simple design the board can be easily carried to a table inside or out with a selection of cheeses, bread, meats, fruit etc for that special occasion.

Does iroko wood rot?

Iroko is a highly durable hardwood that is both insect and rot resistant, making it the ideal type of wood for street furniture products.

Is Iroko the same as teak?

Iroko wood is often suggested as a Teak look-alike, although precaution should be taken as it is not related to Teak. Iroko Wood Lumber, also known as African teak Lumber is a dense African timber with the properties of genuine teak. It is lighter in color than teak and finishes to a golden brown.

What is the iroko tree known for?

IrokoMilicia excelsa, UgandaScientific classificationKingdom:PlantaeClade:Tracheophytes

What is iroko wood?

iroko wood, wood of the iroko tree (Chlorophora excelsa), native to the west coast of Africa. … The wood is tough, dense, and very durable. It is often used in cabinetmaking and paneling as a substitute for teak, which it resembles both in colour (light brown to deep golden-brown) and in grain.

What wood should not be used for cutting boards?

we would avoid open-pored woods like ash and red oak, which will be harder to keep clean from food stains. Pine might impart a resinous taste, and it’s soft so will show cutting scars from knives more easily than a harder wood like maple.

Is teak better than Iroko?

In some ways Iroko is a superior species compared with Teak due the extremely large size of the Iroko tree, which produces wide and long boards that are easier to use for millwork applications. While a bit lighter than Teak, Iroko wood has many of the same properties such as hardness and grain structure.

Does Iroko need treating?

As Iroko is a naturally oily wood, it should be wiped down with Methylated Spirits, after sanding and before applying either of the above products. This is to remove any surface oil or grease that could cause adhesion problems and especially so with Sikkens products.

Is iroko wood good for furniture?

Both woods are strong, durable and suitable for a range of interior and exterior projects — decking, flooring, furniture and so on — and both tend to come in at a similar cost. Iroko is particularly suitable for exterior use in adverse conditions.

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How long will Iroko last outside?

Iroko is the timber that we use on our Hardwood Courtyard & Driveway gates plus some 5 Bar gates. They are supplied in a smooth planed finish that will typically fade to silver-grey within approximately 12 months unless treated.

Can iroko wood be painted?

Naturally oily, Iroko, needs to be de-oiled with methylated spirit before painting. Iroko can be brought to a high gloss finish after filling.

How strong is Iroko?

Iroko has excellent strength properties, comparing well with teak, though weaker in bending and in compression along the grain.

Is iroko wood sustainable?

This beautiful tree species grows abundantly in certain areas of Africa, making it a particularly sustainable choice when it comes to exotic timbers. All our suppliers are dedicated agents committed to sustainable forestry, and meet our exacting requirements when it comes to the ethical sourcing of timber.

Where is iroko timber from?

Iroko timber is produced from the wood of the Iroko tree, which originates from the west coast of Africa. The timber is very durable and is used for outdoor gates and other forms of infrastructure.

Is Iroko a softwood?

Iroko is a tropical hardwood suitable for exterior joinery. It is a cheaper alternative to European oak and is often used as a substitute because it has a lighter, more yellow hue than utile and sapele. Iroko is often used for unpainted door sills.

What is the best wood to make a cutting board out of?

Dense hardwood lumber with a closed grain like maple, walnut and cherry are among the best cutting board materials. The choice of wood should be free of warps, have a flat surface and doesn’t have any blemishes or excessive knots on the surface. The ideal cutting board thickness should be 1 1/4 to 2 inches.

Can you use purple heart wood for a cutting board?

Purple Heart is used all over the world as an exotic wood for cutting boards and many other applications. … The wood is safe for use and doesn’t cause any allergies or reactions when used for a cutting board.

Why is oak not good for cutting boards?

For you tree enthusiasts, you may recognize that oak is a hardwood, but is not often used in cutting boards. The reason is that oak, while hard, has very large pores. When these pores are cut through they are visible to the naked eye.

How do you cut iroko wood?

Experts recommend the use of tipped or hardened saw teeth when cutting iroko. Iroko, according to The Encyclopedia of Wood, “lacks the greasy feel of teak” yet it has enough similarities to make a good substitute. Iroko is harder but slightly weaker than teak.

Can you sand iroko wood?

Some timbers require a little more preparation, and Iroko is certainly one of these. … This means that any wood finishes that relies on penetration into the fibres of the timber will struggle to do so on fresh Iroko. To help absorbency, having the new surface sanded to a final P120 grit sandpaper grade is recommended.

Does Iroko darken?

Iroko is one of the largest hardwood trees in Africa. When freshly cut, the wood has a yellow hue, but soon after installation this will darken to a rich bronze shade. Some staves have a beautiful golden sheen that reflects the light.

Is Iroko good for Windows?

Iroko is a hard and very, very durable timber. It can make a very good window but it’s not always our first choice. It’s more expensive than Idigbo and harder on our tools. … Clearly, if the paint comes off, the timber below will not rot, but it’s not much fun having shabby looking windows.

Is teak more expensive than Iroko?

Iroko has a different look than teak, with its medium brown heartwood, paler sapwood, and wavy grain. … Although it has yet to be used widely in marine applications, iroko’s cost – around one-third that of teak – makes it an appealing option to consider.

What wood looks closest to teak?

Cherry, maple and birch are all close-grained hardwoods like teak and, since they are more common than teak, you have more options for purchasing them from sustainable growers. These woods can then be stained to look like teak with a stain and varnish available in most hardware and home-supply stores.

Which wood is better than teak?

Teak Wood has a denser texture and higher tensile strength than Sheesham which makes it heavier. Being heavy, teak is preferred over Sheesham when making Furniture. However, for small or fold-able units, like handicrafts and decor products, Sheesham is preferred.

Is iroko wood heavy?

Iroko is a medium-heavy, medium-hard exotic wood with a yellow-brown to dark brown color.

Where is iroko grown?

The Iroko tree is a large hardwood tree that grows in the tropics of Africa, particularly on the west coast in countries like Ghana, Guinea, Angola, Benin and Mozambique. While it’s also sometimes known as Nigerian or African Teak, the Iroko tree is not in the teak family.

Is Iroko FSC certified?

Iroko Timber by Latham Timber This is a hardwearing timber which is resistant to decay. Has many of the desirable features of Teak. FSC – Good stocks of FSC Iroko are now available.