Which is the best African Hardwood?
By Christo Fouche
There is no one straight answer to the question of which is the best African Hardwood to use for Wooden Doors and Windows. First of all availability is always a problem with African Hardwoods.
Most African Hardwoods is found in Africa close to the equator, and as with many other things in Africa the un-productivity of these countries as well as the corruption makes it difficult to have a constant flow of these rare woods.
The different wood types also have different characters and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In South Africa the most popular African Hardwoods that is used for the Manufacturing of Wooden Doors and Wooden windows are the following
Rose wood
Kiaat
Serif" size=1>Rhodesian Teak.
Rosewood and Rhodesian Teak are the more heavier species and also the harder wood types. Kiaat is very popular in South Africa because it is a very stable wood type and easy to work with. Rhodesian Teak is much more difficult to work with and will give your woodworking machinery a go for its money.
None of these wood types are easy to get anymore today, and this is reflected in the price. African Hardwoods is getting more expensive by the day.
My personal choice is African Rosewood for Wooden Exterior Doors, because of its looks. When it is polished, it seems to come alive.
When you use Rhodesian Teak, or Zim Teak as it is called nowadays, you might end up with another colour door after a few years. As it matures it will turn darker. It does stays just as beautiful however.
