Sawn Timbers

Hardwoods

African hardwoods

African hardwoods

Our trading history with African suppliers goes back many years: years in which Brooks Bros has developed a real understanding of the many and varied woods that its tropical forests can sustain. From Cedrella to Zebrano…from Tropical West and Central Africa …from cabinet making and boat building to construction work and decorative veneers African hardwoods are a part of our everyday life.

Idigbo
Idigbo African hardwood
Botanical Name
Terminalia Ivorensis
Origin
West Africa
Brief Description
Colour: Pale yellow-brown showing a zonal figure, sometimes with a light pinkish cast
Grain: Straight to slightly irregular.
Texture: Medium to fairly coarse.
Uses
Furniture and high-class joinery in interior and external work, general carpentry, joinery and construction work
Working Properties
Nails, screws and glues well and finishes well once filled
Durability
Durable
Density
560 kg/m³
Iroko
Botanical Name
Chlorophora Excelsa
Origin
West and East Africa
Brief Description
Colour: Golden-orange to light brown
Grain: Interlocked
Texture:
Coarse but even..
Uses
Ship and boat building, interior and exterior joinery, laboratory benches, furniture making. Also: Piling and marine work, domestic flooring,
plywood manufacture and decorative veneering
Working Properties
Works ok with hand and machine tools, nails, screws and glues well and finishes well once filled
Durability
Very durable
Density
640 kg/m³
Obeche
Botanical Name
Triplochiton Scleroxylon
Origin
Tropical West Africa.
Brief Description
Colour: Creamy-white to pale yellow
Grain: Interlocked.
Texture: Moderately fine and even.
Uses
Generally where durability and strength are important: interior rails, drawer sides and linings, cabinet framing and interior joinery
Working Properties
Very easy to work with hand and machine tools, nails easily, glues well and finishes well once filled
Durability
Non-durable
Density
380 kg/m³
Sapele
Botanical Name
Entandrophragma Cylindricum
Origin
West and Central Africa
Brief Description
Colour:Medium to dark-reddish brown, characterised by a well-defined ribbon striped figure on quartered surfaces
Grain: Interlocked or wavy. Texture: Fairly fine.
Uses
Quality furniture and cabinet making, joinery, shop fitting, office furniture, solid doors, boat building, musical instruments, sports goods, counter tops and flooring. Also: A constructional veneer for plywood.
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails, screws and glues well,
Properties care required when staining but provides excellent polished finish
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
640 kg/m³
Utile
Botanical Name
Entandrophragma Utile
Origin
West and Central Africa
Brief Description
Colour: Matures from pink-brown when fresh cut to deep red-brown
Grain: Interlocked.
Texture: Uniformly moderate.
Uses
Furniture, cabinet-making, counter tops, high-class exterior and interior joinery, flooring, boat building and planking. Also: Sliced for decorative veneer and plywood manufacture
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails satisfactorily, glues and Properties stains well and finishes well once filled
Durability
Durable
Density
660 kg/m³
Wenge
Botanical Name
Millettia Laurentii
Origin
Mainly Zaire, also Cameroon Republic and Gabon
Brief Description
Colour: Dark brown with very close and fine black veins
Grain: Fairly straight
Texture: Coarse
Uses
Mainly flooring strips or blocks. Also: Interior and exterior joinery and general construction work
Working Properties
Works fairly well with machine tools, resin cells can interfere with gluing and polishing, nailing can be difficult and finishes well once filled
Durability
Durable
Density
880 kg/m³
Zebrano
Botanical Name
Microberlinia Brazzavillensis.
Origin
West Africa, mainly Gabon and Cameroon Republic
Brief Description
Colour:Light gold-yellow with narrow veining or streaks of dark brown to almost black, giving the quartered surfaces a zebra-like appearance
Grain: Interlocked
Texture: Coarse
Uses
Mainly used as sliced decorative veneer for small cabinetwork, flush doors, cross banding (or inlay banding), fancy goods, marquetry and panelling
Working Properties
Works fairly well with hand and machine tools, requires a belt sander for a smooth finish, glues satisfactorily and finishes well once filled
Durability
Non-durable
Density
740 kg/m³

American hardwoods

The American hardwood industry dates back to the first European settlers and today claims to have more temperate hardwood species than any other region of the world. From the heavily forested Eastern States to the Appalachian mountain range its hardwood forests support a wide variety of commercial species. Grading Rules established more than a century ago and good forest management practice ensure product stability, consistancy and sustainability.

Alder
Botanical Name
Alnus Rubra
Origin
Pacific coast of USA and Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Pale yellow to reddish-brown
Grain: Fairly straight.
Texture:
Uniform.
Uses
Turnery and carving. Also: Plywood core stock, utility plywood, small laminated articles and veneers.
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, has good nailing and gluing properties and takes stain, paint and polish well
Durability
Perishable
Density
530 kg/m³
Ash
American
Botanical Name
Fraxinus Americana
Origin
USA and Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Grey-brown heartwood, sometimes red tinged
Grain: Straight. Texture: Coarse and even.
Uses
All types of sports equipment, handles for striking tools, bent parts for boat building, shop fitting and high-class joinery
Working Properties
Works satisfactorily with hand and machine tools, pre-boring necessary for nailing, glues, stains and polishes well
Durability
Non-durable and perishable.
Density
660 kg/m³
Cherry
Botanical Name
Prunus Serotina
Origin
Deciduous forest areas of USA and Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from rich red to reddish-brown. Grain: Fine, straight and close.
Texture: Smooth.
Uses
Furniture and cabinet making, high-class joinery, boat interiors. Also: Selected logs converted into decorative veneers for furniture, cabinets and wall panelling
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails, glues, stains and polishes well.
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
580 kg/m³
FSC Cocobolo/
Rosewood
cocobolo American hardwood
Botanical Name
Dalbergia Retusa
Origin
Central America from sustainable well managed forests and plantations
Brief Description
Colour:Rich reddish burgundy through to all the hues of brown to bright orange, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces
Grain: Straight and wavy
Texture:
Tight and dense
Uses
Turning, cutlery and tool handles, gun grips and knife handles, wine bottle stoppers, bowls, fancy goods and jewellery boxes. Also: Exotic looking hardwood flooring and veneers for inlay and decorative work
Working Properties
Excellent, machines, nails and screws easily and polishes to a lustrous, glassy finish
Durability
Very durable
Density
1100 kg/m³
FSC
EcoMahogany
ecomahogany American hardwood
Botanical Name
Swietenia Macrophylla
(A true broad leaf Mahogany)
Origin
Sustainable, well managed forests and plantations.
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from light to dark reddish-brown to deep rich red
Grain: Straight to interlocked
Texture: Medium.
Uses
High class furniture, cabinetmaking, interior joinery, panelling and boat interiors. Also: Veneers plywood manufacture and decorative veneering
Working Properties
Works easily with hand and machine tools, easy to glue, nails and screws well, stains and polishes to an excellent finish
Durability
Durable
Density
640 kg/m³
Elm
Red
elm American hardwood
Botanical Name
Ulmus Rubra
Origin
Deciduous forest areas of USA and Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from rich red to reddish-brown Grain: Fine, straight and close.
Texture:
Smooth.
Uses
Furniture and cabinet making, high-class joinery, boat interiors.
Also: Selected logs converted into ecorative veneers for furniture, cabinets and wall panelling
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails, glues, stains and polishes well
Durability
Non-durable
Density
580 kg/m³
FSC Laurel
Botanical Name
Cordia Alliadora.
Origin
West Indies and Tropical America
Brief Description
Colour: Dull golden brown with variegated irregular markings
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Medium
Uses
Cabinets and furniture, interior joinery, boat decking, light construction and vehicle bodies. Also: Veneers for panelling and furniture
Working Properties
Works easily with hand and machine tools, takes nails and screws well, glues, stains and polishes to a good finish
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
550 kg/m³
Maple
Hard
hard maple American hardwood
Botanical Name
Acer Saccharum
Origin
Eastern USA and Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Cream-white with reddish tinge.
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Fine and even
Uses
Heavy-duty flooring, furniture and panelling. Also: Selected stocks
are rotary cut to produce bird's eye maple veneer
Working Properties
Can be a difficult wood to work with, pre-boring necessary for nailing, glues, stains and polishes well
Durability
Non-durable
Density
720 kg/m³
Maple
Soft
soft maple American hardwood
Botanical Name
Acer Rubrum
Origin
Eastern USA and Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Grey-brown sometimes tinged with red.
Grain: Straight .
Texture:
Coarse and even.
Uses
All types of sports equipment, handles for striking tools, bent parts
for boat building, shop fitting and high-class joinery
Working Properties
Works satisfactorily with hand and machine tools, nails and glues satisfactorily with care, stains and polishes well
Durability
Non-durable
Density
560 kg/m³
Oak
American Red
oak american red American hardwood
Botanical Name
Quercus Rubra
Origin
Eastern Canada and USA
Brief Description
Colour: Similar to most other oaks with a biscuit to pink colour, but has a reddish tinge
Grain: Mostly straight.
Texture: Coarse
Uses
Flooring, furniture and internal joinery. Not suitable for exterior work. Also: Plywood manufacture and decorative veneers
Working Properties
Varies according to density of wood and growth conditions, nailing may need pre-boring, gluing properties are variable, stains and polishes to a good finish
Durability
Non-durable
Density
770 kg/m³
Oak
American White
Botanical Name
Quercus Alba
Origin
Eastern USA and South Eastern Canada
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from pale yellow-brown to biscuit with a pinkish tint
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Medium to coarse.
Uses
Furniture, cabinet making, joinery, heavy construction, parquet and strip flooring, boat building. Also: Plywood and ornamental veneers for panelling and decorative veneers.
Working Properties
Varies according to rate of growth, nailing may need pre-boring, screws well, gluing properties are variable, stains and polishes to a good finish
Durability
The heartwood is durable and extremely resistant to preservative treatment. The sapwood is moderately resistant
Density
760 kg/m³
FSC Spanish
Cedar
Botanical Name
Cedrella Odorata
Origin
Central and South America
Brief Description
Colour: Usually pale pinkish-brown to dark reddish-brown
Grain: Straight or shallowly interlocked.
Texture:
Moderate
Uses
Furniture, cabinets and panelling, high-class joinery, flooring, house construction and boat building. Also: Veneers for panelling, plywood and panel corestock
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, takes nails and screws well, glues satisfactorily and can be brought to good finish
Durability
Durable
Density
480 kg/m³
FSC Spanish
Oak
spanish oak American hardwood
Botanical Name
Terminalia Amazonia
Origin
Central and South America
Brief Description
Colour:Yellow-brown to olive-brown with prominent reddish stripes and streaks
Grain: Irregular or interlocked
Texture:
Medium with a high lustre
Uses
Cabinets, furniture, flooring, interior joinery, planking and decking in boat building. Also: In plywood manufacture and as a decorative veneer
Working Properties
Requires pre-boring before nailing, holds screws well, glues, stains and polishes to a good finish
Durability
Durable
Density
800 kg/m³
Tulipwood
tulipwood American hardwood
Botanical Name
Liriodendron Tulipifera
Origin
USA (also known as Canary Whitewood and Yellow Poplar)
Brief Description
Colour:Pale yellowish-brown to pale olive-brown, streaked with olive green
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Regular, fine
Uses
Pattern making, carving, cabinet making interior fittings and joinery
Working Properties
Easy to work, with both hand tools and machines
Durability
Non-durable
Density
450 kg/m³
Walnut
Black
Botanical Name
Juglans Nigra
Origin
Eastern USA and Canada (Ontario).
Brief Description
Colour: Rich dark brown to purplish-black
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Rather coarse
Uses
High quality furniture, cabinet making and interior joinery, boat building, plywood manufacture, panelling and cabinet/decorative veneers.
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails and glues are satisfactorily, polishes to a high finish
Durability
Very durable
Density
640 kg/m³
Jatobá
Botanical Name
Hymenaea courbaril
Origin
South America (Brazil)
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from light orange-brown to dark reddish-brown, and tends to become darker with age. Exhibits quite a large colour variation from one board to the next and features
Grain: Tends to be wavy and interlocked
Texture:
Medium to coarse
Uses
Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, shipbuilding, stair treads, turned objects, and other small specialty items.
Working Properties
Glues, stains, and finishes well, and also turns well on the lathe. Tends to be difficult to work with on account of its density and hardness
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
920 kg/m³

European hardwoods

The vast forests of Europe are today one of our most valuable sources of indigenous deciduous species like Ash, Beech, Birch, Oak and Sycamore. Efficient forest management has meant these popular timbers are responsibly sourced and readily available for us all to enjoy and admire.
Ash
Botanical Name
Fraxinus Excelsior
Origin
Grows throughout Europe, North Africa and Western Asia
Brief Description
Colour: Cream to pale tan colour
Grain: Tough, flexible and straight
Texture:
Coarse but even
Uses
Cabinet making and furniture, sports goods and striking-tool handles. Also: Sliced for decorative veneer and plywood manufacture
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, necessary to pre-bore for nailing, stains easily and takes an excellent smooth finish filled
Durability
Non-durable
Density
710 kg/m³
Beech
beech European hardwood
Botanical Name
Fagus Syvatica
Origin
Grows throughout central Europe and UK (also found in Western Asia )
Brief Description
Colour: Very pale pink-brown that turns reddish-brown when steamed.
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Fine and even
Uses
Cabinet making, high-class joinery, desks and workbenches, domestic
flooring, construction and utility plywood. Sliced veneers are used for decorative veneering
Working Properties
Offers medium resistance to hand and machine tools, has a moderate blunting effect, pre-bore for nailing, stains well, glues
easily and takes an excellent finish filled
Durability
Perishable
Density
720 kg/m³
Birch
birch European hardwood
Botanical Name
Betula Pendula
Origin
Grows throughout Europe and UK (also found in Scandinavia)
Brief Description
Colour: Cream-white to biscuit
Grain: Straight
Texture:
Fine
Uses
High-class joinery, interior fitments, dowels, bobbins, general
turnery and flooring.
Working Properties
Has high bending and crushing strength. Glues well, stains and polishes to a good finish filled.
Durability
Perishable
Density
660 kg/m³
Lime
Botanical Name
Tilia Vugaris
Origin
Grows throughout Europe and the UK.
Brief Description
Colour: A creamy-yellow wood, that matures to yellow/pale brown
Grain: Straigt
Texture: Fine and uniform
Uses
Mainly woodcarving. Also: broom handles, toys, turnery and selectively as a decorative veneer.
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, glues well, nails satisfactorily and can be brought to a good finish by staining and all processes filled
Durability
Non-durable
Density
540 kg/m³
Oak
Botanical Name
Quercus Petraea and Robur
Origin
UK and Europe (also Asia Minor and North Africa)
Brief Description
Colour: Yellowish brown (irregular/cross-grained material can occur)
Grain: Straight.
Texture:
Medium to coarse.
Uses
Continental oaks are preferred for furniture and cabinet making.
English oak is best for garden furniture, boat building, gateposts, furniture, floors and construction work. Also:Interior and exterior joinery, coffins, flooring, gates and fencing. For plywood manufacture it is rotary cut and when sliced creates a very attractively figured veneer
Working Properties
Has a moderate to severe blunting effect on cutters, takes waxing, liming, fuming and polishing treatments very well filled and has very
little shrinkage
Durability
Durable
Density
670-720 kg/m³
Sycamore
sycamore European hardwood
Botanical Name
Acer Pseudoplatanus.
Origin
Central Europe and the UK.
Brief Description
Colour: White to creamy-white.
Grain: Straight.
Texture:
Fine and even.
Uses
Furniture, domestic flooring, turnery, musical instruments
Also: Selected logs are sliced for decorative veneered panelling
Working Properties
Works easily with hand and machine tools, nails, glues, stains and polishes excellently when filled
Durability
Perishable
Density
610 kg/m³

Far Eastern hardwoods

Malaysia (the world’s fifth largest producer of tropical timbers) and Indonesia (with more tropical rainforest than any other Asian country) list many thousands of indigenous species, but only a few are considered of commercial importance: species like Dark Red Meranti, Dark Red Seraya, Keruing and Yellow Balau. With conservation regulated through state law and forest management, areas of forest are protected making sources easier to identify.
Durian
durian far eastern hardwood
Botanical Name
Coelostegia
Origin
Malaysia and Indonesia
Brief Description
Colour: Pink-brown to deep red-brown.
Grain: Straight to interlocked and a coarse. Texture: Often uneven
Uses
Furniture, joinery and panelling, veneers, light construction and plywood
Working Properties
Machines well, however turning produces a slightly rough surface,
nails well, can be satisfactorily bonded using standard procedures, seasoned timber readily accepts paint, stain and polish
Durability
Durable
Density
690 kg/m³
Majau
- Seraya
Botanical Name
Shorea Pauciflora from Sabah (Oba Suluk)
Origin
Indonesia and Malaysia
Brief Description
Colour: Medium to dark reddish- brown with white Dammar or resin streaks
Grain: Interlocked
Texture: Fairly coarse
Uses
Exterior and interior joinery and constructional work, boat building,
shop fitting, furniture, parquet flooring and veneering
Working Properties
Works fairly easily to give a good finish
Durability
Durable
Density
710 kg/m³
Meranti
merenti far eastern hardwood
Botanical Name
Shorea Pauciflora
Origin
South-East Asia and the islands of the South West Pacific
Brief Description
Colour:Varies from white through straw to yellow in the yellow-white groups.
Grain: Interlocked
Texture:
Moderately coarse.
Uses
Widely used in the manufacture of doors and conservatories, as well as flooring, panelling, furniture, joinery, mouldings, plywood, turnery and carving.
Working Properties
Machines reasonably well, nails, glues and stains well and can be painted, stained or polished but may need to be filled before finishing
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
660 kg/m³
Nemesu
nemesu far eastern hardwood
Botanical Name
Shorea pauciflora
Origin
Malaysia
Brief Description
Colour: Medium to dark-red brown
Grain: Interlocked.
Texture:
Rather coarse.
Uses
Exterior and interior joinery, shopfitting, boatbuilding, flooring and cladding (when treated). Also: Rotary cut for plywood manufacture and sliced for decorative veneers
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails, glues, stains and polishes well
Durability
Moderately durable
Density
660 kg/m³
FSC Recycled
Rosewood
fsc recycled rosewood far eastern hardwood
Botanical Name
Dalbergia Latifolia
Origin
Southern India and Java
Brief Description
Colour: From rose to dark purple-brown with darker purple-black lines
Grain: Narrowly interlocked
Texture:
Uniform and moderate
Uses
Posts, rafters and exterior joinery, high-class furniture, cabinet making, shop, office and bank fitting, flooring and boat building
Working Properties
Hard to saw and machine and also nail, glues satisfactorily and gives an excellent polished or waxed finish
Durability
Very Durable
Density
850 kg/m³
Sereya
Light Red
Botanical Name
Shorea Pauciflora
Origin
Malaysia
Brief Description
Colour: Varies from very pale pink to light red-brown.
Grain: Interlocked
Texture: Coarse but even
Uses
Interior joinery, light structural work, carpentry, domestic flooring, panelling, drawer sides and backs. Also: Plywood manufacture and sliced for decorative veneers
Working Properties
Works well with hand and machine tools, nails and glues well, produces a good finish once filled
Durability
Moderately durable to non-durable.
Density
550 kg/m³

Sawn Timbers

Softwoods

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