Iroko

Scientific name:  Milicia excelsa

Description:  Heartwood is usually a yellow to golden or medium brown, with color tending to darken over time. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.  Iroko has a medium to coarse texture, with open pores and an interlocked grain.

Properties:  Generally easy to work, except for its interlocked grain, which may cause some tearout during surfacing operations. Also, deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters. Iroko glues and finishes well.