Afromosia 4/4 Rough Sawn Lumber (African Teak)
Direct Kingma listing for Afrormosia; inventory, lengths, and widths can rotate by variant.
View optionAfrormosia Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Afrormosia is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific namePericopsis elata
Janka hardness1,570 lbf
Average dried weight45.3 lb/ft³
Best fitBoatbuilding
Overview
Why choose Afrormosia?
Afrormosia is a imported specialty hardwood associated with West Africa. It is useful when the project calls for boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific namePericopsis elata
DistributionWest Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 3.2%, Tangential: 6.2%, Volumetric: 9.9%, T/R Ratio: 1.9 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as very durable, with good insect/borer resistance.
Afrormosia colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is yellowish brown, occasionally with a reddish or olive-colored hue, darkening with age. Narrow sapwood is pale yellow and is clearly differentiated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight, though it can be interlocked. With a fine, uniform texture and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, in nearly all regards, afrormosia is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though surfacing boards with interlocking grain may cause tearout. Other downsides include a slight blunting effect on cutting edges, and the development of dark stains if left in contact with iron in damp conditions.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, afrormosia has been reported as a sensitizer .
Afrormosia should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Afrormosia
Best projects
Boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Afrormosia from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Teak rough sawn lumber
Outdoor-capable hardwood alternative where the project needs durability and a premium look.
View optionCedar lumber collection
Softer, lighter outdoor alternative when decay resistance matters more than exotic hardwood density.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Afrormosia FAQ
What is Afrormosia best used for?
Afrormosia is best considered for boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Afrormosia beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Afrormosia?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.