Trade Names
Figured Macore, Figured Douka
Latin Names
Tieghemella africana
Similar to
Moabi, Macore
Origin
Africa
Range
West Africa, from Cameroon through Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Congo, lower tropical rain forests.
Uses
Sliced veneer for faces, furniture, paneling, parquet flooring. Only Figured Douka is used for slicing. Plain Douka is not in demand and is used at most as rotary wood for plywood. Douka is to be seen as a substitute wood for Macore.
Properties
Macore is very often figured and frequently striped, wavy, moiré or flamed. The color ranges from light red to reddish-brown. It must be cut when hot which means careful, intensive cooking is necessary.
Machining
Working presents no special problems but should be carried out at a low feed speed due to the interlocked spiral grain. Moreover, tool blades become quickly dull as a result of silicate deposits.
Seasoning
There are no difficulties to seasoning or drying this wood. It must only be carried out slowly and controlled to prevent deformation.
Finishing
Varnishing presents no problems but a filler should be used.
Jointing
The wood glues easily. Screw and nail joints hold firmly. It is advantageous to pre-drill when using screws.