Mopane Roots
Colophospermum mopane
• Also known as |
Gumane|Mopane|Mopani
Quick Look
Indigenous to the southern region of Africa, the Mopane tree is known for its butterfly-shaped leaves — leaves which are initially a bright green color, later transforming into a cache of reds, oranges, and yellows, in the autumn season. The heartwood it produces is medium to darker brown in color, with a golden to reddish tint, often decorated with black streaks. It is very dense and extremely durable. It is also very resistance to infestation, which has seen it used for centuries in its native region in a variety of outdoor uses.
The wood is considered very difficult to work, as — in addition to its great density — its grain patterns are usually interlocked. It turns smoothly and (as would be expected) holds details very well, making it popular with turners and carvers who know of it.
We stock roots, but the details we provide are for the timber.
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Why We Love This Wood
Despite being one of the most dense, stable and durable woods on the planet, Mopane remains one of Africa's best-kept secrets. It has been used for centuries there for carved woodwind instruments, and is considered to have excellent tonal properties, similar to African Blackwood. Large boards are rare and difficult to obtain; trees tend to branch out to great widths, yielding irregular-shaped, trunks, and at full maturity
Quick Look
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Vital Statistics
Main Color Group | Light Brown |
Grain Pattern | Even |
Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT3 | 67 |
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 1075 |
Janka Hardness - LBF | 3390 |
Janka Hardness - N | 15060 |
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Other Species
Chestnut - European
Durable and relatively affordable, European Chestnut is a popular cladding species in Europe. With looks similar to Oak and Ash, we are sure you will love the appearance of Sweet Chestnut. Grain can be interlocked, but Chestnut is still relatively easy to work. It can split relatively easily, so pre-drilling is essential.
This is a new species for us here at Rare Woods and a first for South Africa. We are delighted with what arrived and can’t wait to get it into some of your projects.
Detail
Common Uses
chestnut-european
Birch Plywood
Available in a range of thicknesses and grades, Birch Plywood is a wonderful, high-end board product used in the production of cabinets, furniture and more. With a consistent layer thicknesses, a thick veneer face and all voids patched, Birch Plywood is visually appealing on face grain and end grain, structurally sound and stable in use (indoor application only).
Our Birch Plywood comes from Eastern Europe and we stock both S/BB and BB/BB grades with thicknesses ranging from 6.5mm to 21mm in standard sheet dimensions of 2.45mx1.22m
Grade Summary:
S/BB: Better face clear – may have occasional patch. Second face is BB grade.
BB/BB: both faces are grade BB. Can be up to 29 patches, a side, but typically 3-6 patches a side.
Common Uses:
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
Detail
Common Uses
birch-plywood
Longhi
Longhi is an African wood with similar working properties to its more well-known cousin, Anegre. Its color varies from a greyish-white to beige to pinkish-brown color, which slightly darkens with age and UV-ray exposure. Its generally light appearance makes sapwood difficult to distinguish. Its grains are typical straight (though occasionally interlocked) and its texture ranges between fine and medium-fine. It can sometimes possess mottled or subtle tiger-striped figuring.
The wood must be carefully dried, as it is susceptible to fungus. It is considered to be moderately durable, and moderately stable. Longhi has a solid strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it a popular choice for flooring and decking.
Common Uses:
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
Detail
Common Uses
longhi
Birch - Flame Roasted
“Roasting” Flame Birch involves gradually heating the wood up to temperatures of greater than 160 degrees celcius in special heat chambers made of stainless steel under anoxic conditions. The heat removes organic compounds from the wood cells, changing both the physical and chemical make-up of the wood. The process is natural and chemical free. It darkens the wood to a beautiful rich chocolatey brown color whilst still showing the gorgeous grain and figure of the underlying wood.
The thermally modified wood is more dimensionally stable, but the process does reduce bending strength and make the wood a little more brittle. This makes it chip a little easier than the un-modified lumber. The brittleness makes it less suitable for intricate cabinetry, but it is still an excellent choice for less intricate items such as floors, tops, panels, cladding etc.
Extra care needs to be taken when finishing thermally modified wood, as the “bone dry” wood has a tendency to “suck in” much of what is given to it. Our in-house woodworking specialist has had excellent results with Osmo PolyX. He suggests a thicker finish will work better.
Common Uses:
flooring, interior panelling
flooring, interior panelling
Detail
Common Uses
birch-flame-roasted
Melunak
This Malaysian species is a medium weight timber suitable for light structural purposes. It is a popular joinery timber and it machines easily and finishes well.
Common Uses:
furniture, joinery
furniture, joinery
Detail
Common Uses
melunak
Anegre
Indigenous to the tropical regions of East Africa and West Africa, as far south as Angola.¬† Anegre has been used primarily as an interior wood; it is decidedly non-durable, and thus not recommended for outdoor applications. The wood’s aesthetics can vary greatly, as Anegre is comprised of three separate species within the Pouteria genus. Its colors can range from pale yellowish to orangish-brown wood, to a pale pinkish-brown, sometimes with additional highlight coloration. Anegre typically darkens to a golden-to reddish brown over time, with repeated UV ray exposure. The heartwood and sapwood of Anegre are usually not distinguishable from each other.
Anegre has a medium texture with closed pores similar to Maple.  The species is easy to work with both hand and power tools.
Examples can be quite beautiful — and sometimes stunning, with curly and mottled figuring being not uncommon. Its hues tend to be generally pastel in nature, so it makes a very complimentary, aesthetically unimposing wood for a variety of interior applications. Grains are typically straight but can occasionally be interlocked. Its texture is medium and it has a nice natural luster.
Common Uses:
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
Detail
Common Uses
anegre