What is obeche wood?

Originating from West Africa, our Cut-To-Size Obeche Timber is a popular wood for a range of different interior joinery, furniture projects and more. With a colour spectrum ranging from white to pale straw, Obeche is a hardwood characterised by its interlocked grain, medium to coarse texture and gorgeous natural sheen.

Is obeche good for furniture?

It can be adapted to a lot of woodworking projects if you are prepared to work with its characteristics. For the furniture maker, secondary woods and mouldings are an ideal application. Given that there are a few environmental concerns, Obeche is a good choice for those interested in exploring tropical woods.

Is obeche a soft wood?

The wood is fairly soft, of uniform medium to coarse texture, and the grain is usually interlocked but sometimes straight. Air-dry wood weighs about 385 kg/m3 (24 lb/ft3). Obeche dries readily with little degrade. It is not resistant to decay, and green sapwood is subject to blue stain.

Can obeche be used outside?

From memory (which isn’t all that it once was) – Obeche has an interlocked grain and therefore ideal for mouldings used as interior trim – but it’s classed as a non-durable timber, and therefore not recommended for outdoor use – prone to rotting, fungal and insect attack etc.

Is obeche wood strong?

Strength. Bearing in mind the light weight of the timber, obeche has good strength properties and, when compared with European redwood, is only about 15 per cent less in maximum bending strength(modulus of rupture); in stiffness it is not so good, being about 50 per cent less than redwood.

Is obeche a hardwood tree?

Ayous/Obeche is a true hardwood specie. Despite it’s relatively soft density and lightweight, it is a dicot tree. Similar to Paulownia in weight, density and specific gravity, it too, is a “soft” hardwood lumber specie.

What type of tree is obeche?

The timber is known by the common names African whitewood, abachi, obeche (in Nigeria), wawa (in Ghana), ayous (in Cameroon) and sambawawa (in Ivory Coast)….

Triplochiton scleroxylon
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Triplochiton
Species:	T. scleroxylon

Can you stain obeche?

It is also very easy to handle during installation. Its natural colour is a yellowish white, which makes it easy to stain in any colour.

Where does obeche wood come from?

Obeche is found in most of the countries of West Africa, especially Nigeria, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and the Cameroons.

Can you paint balsa wood?

Spray paint and primer is best for balsa wood. The only problem is this creates a lot of fumes. Be sure to work outdoors or open all the windows in the area you’re working to protect yourself. You could use brush-on primer and paint too, but apply a very light coat.

Do you have to seal balsa wood?

Use a sealer, such as a sanding sealer, to prep the wood for painting. This will help keep the paint from being absorbed by the balsa wood.

What is the best glue for balsa wood?

Elmer’s Wood Glue: Elmer’s Wood Glue is inexpensive glue that is quite effective for holding balsa wood together. The glue is available at nearly every store that sells glue.

What kind of paint is best for balsa wood?

Spray a light coat of enamel or latex paint onto the wood and let it dry. These are the best paint types for balsa.

Is Gorilla Glue good for balsa wood?

Gorilla Glue The glue foams while it dries and penetrates the balsa wood to create a better and stronger hold than average glues. This glue has a unique quality of using water to dry instead of an absence of water like other glues.

Do you need to seal balsa wood before painting?

Use a sealer, such as a sanding sealer, to prep the wood for painting. This will help keep the paint from being absorbed by the balsa wood. Allow time for the sealer to dry.

Do you need to prime balsa wood before painting?

You need to use sandable primer because you’ll be sanding it between coats. Primer is important because the paints won’t stick properly without it, so don’t skip this step.

What do you seal balsa wood with?

What Can I Use To Seal Balsa Wood? Sanding sealers made with Aero Gloss can be used. In model planes, it seals the balsa before painting it. If you need a more convenient way to clean up, try Thompson’s water seal, which is water-based.

What’s the strongest glue for balsa wood?

Gorilla Glue takes longer than average to dry, but forms a strong and rigid glue joint. The glue foams while it dries and penetrates the balsa wood to create a better and stronger hold than average glues. This glue has a unique quality of using water to dry instead of an absence of water like other glues.

What is Obeche timber used for?

This timber is a workable material that is light and soft yet relatively strong – carving, glueing, staining and finishing effectively. Uses: Interior joinery, furniture, picture frames, veneer, plywood, carvings, furniture, interior joinery projects Obeche has a fine texture and is easily workable.

What are the properties of Obeche wood?

Bearing in mind the light weight of the timber, obeche has good strength properties and, when compared with European redwood, is only about 15 per cent less in maximum bending strength (modulus of rupture); in stiffness it is not so good, being about 50 per cent less than redwood.

Is obeche wood expensive?

Pricing/Availability: Lumber is sometimes available, though it’s primarily exported as veneer or plywood. Obeche is relatively inexpensive for an imported hardwood. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Where is obeche found in Africa?

Obeche is found in most of the countries of West Africa, especially Nigeria, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and the Cameroons. A large forest tree, 45m or more high with extensive sharp buttresses, rising in some trees 6m or more up the trunk.