Trade Names
Movingui, Ayan, Ayaran
Latin Names
Distemonanthus benthamianus
Similar to
Citron Wood, West and East Indian Satinwood
Origin
Africa
Range
West Africa, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gaboon
Uses
Sliced veneer for faces and rotary veneer for panels, furniture, interior fittings, paneling and parquet flooring, construction lumber.
Properties
The heartwood is lemon to greenish-yellow, yellow-brown, darkening in time. The wood has an intensive lustrous surface which is why it is misleadingly called “African Satinwood”. The logs with pronounced figuring are particularly decorative. This figuring can occur in different forms.
Machining
The light logs can be machined as a general rule without any great difficulty. The dark wood has a higher silicate content and as a result dulls tools quickly. The twisting fibre growth becomes a problem when planing at high feed speeds.
Seasoning
Only extremely careful drying can reduce the risk of checking which can cause high losses even by mere sun radiation or air movement if those are too strong.
Finishing
Once the surface is smooth and clean, varnishing presents no difficulties. It can also be treated with open pore lacquers for exterior use.
Jointing
It is easy to produce glue joints. Screw and nail joints must be pre-drilled.