Trade Names
Macore, African Cherry, Cherry Mahogany
Similar Woods
Douka, Moabi
Origin
Africa
Range
West Africa from Liberia through the Ivory Coast to Ghana and Nigeria.
Uses
Sliced veneer mostly used as backing and inside veneer in Central Europe. Used also in Southern Europe and North America as face veneer. Solid wood for parquet floors and stairs. Figured Macore is used for high quality architectural woodwork or musical instruments.
Properties
The heartwood is pink to red-brown and rather resistant to fungi, insect infestation and the weather. Macore is one of the most sought after redwoods from Africa. Blocks with a great deal of sap and less than 1 m in diameter are hardly suitable for veneer production.
Machining
Straight grain wood can be worked without difficulty. Stellite-tipped saws are required to cut Macore and reduce tool wear.
Seasoning
Drying should be carried out very carefully at average and constant temperatures. Despite the low shrinkage Macore is prone to end splitting when drying.
Finishing
Macore can be treated with all kinds of stains, varnishes and lacquers. Dust extraction should definitely be available, because sanding dust can cause inflammation of mucous membranes and conjunctivae.
Jointing
The wood can be glued well. Screw and nail joints should be pre-drilled.