What is Iroko?
Iroko, or African Teak, is native to both West and East Africa. It is extremely durable and it has good resistance to decay and insects/borers. Iroko is golden-orange to brown in color. The grain is interlocked and can be irregular. Darker grain in the wood can be indicative of calcium carbonate deposits, which are commonly found in the wood.
How is Iroko Used?
African Teak is mainly used in ship and boat building. It works moderately well with either hand or machine tools. It is generally easy to work, but prefer to say “moderately well” because if you encounter interlocked grain you can experience tear-out. And the calcium carbonate deposits can blunt your tools.
Iroko is generally a less expensive substitute for Teak.
Other uses of the wood include joinery, lab benches, furniture, and carving. It is also used as structural timbers for piling and marine work.