Iroko

Iroko is a wood from tropical western and central Africa which resembles teak in appearance and durability.  It is sometimes used, therefore, as a teak substitute due to its lower prices and non-endangered status.

Geographical Distribution

Iroko is scientifically known as Milicia excels or Milicia regia.  Some sources may also refer to it as Chlorophora excels or C. regia although these genus and species identifications have been replaced in most circles.  The wood originates in the tropical coastal regions of western and central west Africa.

General Characteristics

Iroko heartwood varies from yellow to a more golden or medium brown.  The color tends to darken over time as is common with many tropical hardwoods.  If this is of concern to you when you are working with Iroko, you should become familiar with some of the various ways that color change can be slowed or prevented in hardwoods such as Iroko.

Iroko has a medium to coarse texture, with open pores and an interlocked grain.  The endgrain is diffuse and porous.

Iroko is very durable, and is resistant to both rot and insect attack.  Because of its durability and also due to its appearance, Iroko is sometimes used as a Teak substitute and may be refered to by some as African Teak, although Iroko is not remotely related to the actual Teak wood tree.

Working Characteristics

Iroko is considered generally easy to work with.  The only possible exception is due to the interlocked grain which can cause tearout during surfacing/planing operations.  As with any process, sharp tools, experience, and patience will be rewarded when surfacing Iroko.  Also, deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present in Iroko specimens, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters.  Again, keep your tools sharp with frequent and repeated honing passes and you should be able to achieve great results.  Also consider the use of tools with replaceable carbide cutting blades that don’t require sharpening, only replacement when dull.  If using these tools, be sure to replace cutters when dull!  Iroko is reported to glue and finish well.

There is no reported odor associated with working with Iroko

Pricing

Only relatively small amounts of Iroko wood reach the world market and therefore it is moderately expensive.  Pen blanks should be available for $1.50 to $3.00 each.  I was unable to find definitive pricing on more substantial pieces such as a bowl blank.  Veneers may also be available for a moderate price.  Woodfinder is a website that is dedicated to advertising exotic wood dealers and I can’t speak to the quality of any of them, but they do have the advantage of performing searches based on your location which might allow you to visit a wood dealer in person to hand pick what you want to work with at a price you are comfortable paying.

While Iroko is not listed in the CITES appendices and therefore importation is not restricted or monitored, Iroko is listed on the IUCN Red List due to a 20% reduction in stocks over the past three generations.  This may, or may not, influence your decision to work with Iroko in the future.

Uses

Iroko finds varous, although limited, uses in the wood working and wood turning worlds.  It is most commonly seen as a veneer, but it has also been used for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, turned items, and other small specialty wood items.  It is also used, significantly, for boatbuilding due to its similarity in appearance and durability to Teak, a treasured wood for shipbuilding and appointments.

Health Hazards

Severe negative allergic reactions are uncommon but Iroko has been reported as a sensitizer.  The most common reactions to Iroko include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation of mild intensity.  However, Iroko can also cause other health effects in sensitive individuals, such as asthma, boils, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.  Therefore, care should be taken especially if an individual has experienced allergic reactions with other woods or wood dust.

Complete information about health hazards associated with a wide variety of exotic hardwoods is available from The Wood Database along with additional information about the best use of a dust collection system, coupled with the use of personal protective equipment such as respirators, which is highly recommended when machining this wood.  Fortunately, I have never experienced any negative side effects from working

While the above health experiences are documented and validated, folk lore, especially amongst the Yoruba, from the areas of Africa where the tree grows cause the tree to be feared and hence Iroko is shunned or revered with offerings.  Yoruba people believe that the tree is inhabited by a spirit, and anybody who sees the Iroko-man face to face becomes insane and speedily dies.  According to the Yoruba, any man who cuts down any Iroko tree brings devastating misfortune on himself and all of his family.  They also claim that the spirit of the Iroko can be heard in houses which use Iroko wood, as the spirit of the Iroko is trapped in the wood.  Before you panic about possessing Iroko wood, it may be helpful to know that there are other trees in Nigeria about which the Yoruba make similar, or identical, claims.

My Personal Experiences

My experience of Iroko was limited to two pen blank size pieces which I can no longer locate for retail sale.  I believe they were purchased as part of a set of African woods at Woodcraft and such sets are still be available from that vendor for a total price of $49.99 plus shipping.  Bear in mind that this will only yield two pieces of Oroko along with many other species.

I found Iroko to be moderately soft, very easy to cut and sand.  There was no oil present and no scent in the pieces I worked with.  The color was very light with no figure and an open porosity.  The wood was frankly very plain and I would be stretched to see the resemblance to Teak in the pieces I had.  Wood is highly variable, as we all should know, and any one specimen may not demonstrate all desired characteristics.  This is why it is ideal to choose wood specimens in person, or based on high quality photography to avoid disappointment.

For the purposes for which I was using Iroko it performed just fine although I wouldn’t rate the wood as excellent or a stand out for any reason.  If you are looking for a relatively easy African wood to work with, specimens of Iroko that meet your color needs may be ideal for your needs.  I would work with it again if I should come across it, but I wouldn’t, at this point in my hobby, seek it out especially.