Samartex product: Lumber

Traditionally sawn lumber from Ghana is well known for its excellent qualities. Samartex Sawmill, the biggest in the country, operates five bandsaws with an annual output of 30,000m³. Combined with a Kiln drying capacity of 1000m³ we are ready to supply as low as 6% MC. Having invested in modern log-turner and heavy duty log carriages (20T) Samartex can offer some of Ghana’s most excellent species of high strength and natural durability for use in sea defence, dockyards, river protection, sleepers, bridge timbers and other high exposure situations.

Qualities of sawn lumber

FAS (free of sap wood and defects)
Commons (no. 1-3)
AD (Air dried)
KD (Kiln dried)
S2S (Hit and miss)

Specification:

All standard random (fix as requested)

Lumber / standard Thickness: 25-100mm Width: 150mm and wider with 5% narrows 100-140mm Length: 240cm + (max 600cm) with 5-10% shorts in180-210cm & 5-10% 210-230cm / rising by 15cm

Square edged Boules / standard Thickness: 25-100mm Width: 150mm and wider Length: 300cm + (max 600cm) with 10% shorts in 240-290cm / rising by 15cm

Round form Boules / standard Thickness: 25-100mm Width: 150mm and wider Length: 210cm + with 30% 410cm and longer

Scantling & squares / standard Thickness: 25-75mm Width: as requested Length: 50cm and longer (max 240cm)

Species:

African Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) Typical red-brown heartwood with pale sapwood. Grain straight/interlocked. Mild easily worked timber providing good attractive finishes. A wood of great versatility. Weight: 500kg/m3 at 12-14% MC Strength: 9-11000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: High quality joinery, cabinet work, furniture, mouldings, doors, frames, boat construction, turnery, carvings

African Walnut (Lovoa Klaineana) Distinctive golden brown heartwood with darker streaks. Sapwood pale. Fine texture but grain sometimes interlocked. Mild and easy to work. Easy to dry. Very good finishes obtained. Weight: 520kg/m3 at 12-14% MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: High quality furniture and cabinet work, joinery, domestic flooring, doors and frames, Boat construction

Akasa (Chrysophyllum spp) Grey brown medium strength general utility interior specie. Weight: 700kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Interior joinery, flooring, utility furniture, turnery

Asanfena (Aningeria spp) Heartwood and sapwood red brown to pink. Lower strength decorative interior specie. Similar wood as the European cherry. Weight: 550kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 9-11000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Suitable for interior joinery in combination with sliced veneered panels.

Ananta (Cynometra ananta) Heartwood dark red-brown with darker streaks. Sapwood pale. Grain is fine but interlocked. Strong timber of high density Weight: 950kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Structural works, heavy duty flooring, sleepers, poles, mining timber

Ayan (Distemonanthus benthamianus) Heartwood distinctive yellow, sapwood paler. Interlock grain. Fine even texture. Very stable. Weight: 700kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Exterior and interior, cabinet work, flooring, door frames

Cedrella (Cedrela odorata) Red-brown Mahogany colour heartwood. Sapwood pale. Fine texture. Plantation grown Weight: 450 kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 9-11000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Furniture, joinery, framing, boat building, toys and woodware

Celtis / Esa (Celtis mildbraedii) Yellowish grey heartwood and sapwood. Fine texture Weight: 750kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Flooring, mouldings, selected furniture

Dahoma (Piptadenia africana) Yellowish brown streaky heartwood. Sapwood pale. A useful outdoor timber Weight: 700kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Exterior structural, mining timber, marine work, sleepers, outdoor furniture, trailer decking, wagon work

Danta (Nesogordonia papaverifera) Attractive Mahogany red heartwood. Sapwood lighter. Fine grain mostly interlocked. Reasonable bending qualities Weight: 750kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: High quality joinery, cabinet work, bench tops, boat components, turnery, decking, interior and exterior applications

Denya (Cylicodiscus gabunensis) Distinctive yellowish-red heartwood. Sapwood pale. A hard and heavy species of high natural durability including resistance to marine borers. Weight: 950kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 19000 + N/mm2 Recommended usage: Heavy construction, sea defence and dock work, mining timber, sleepers, bridges, piling, ship and boat building, heavy duty flooring

Edinam / Tiama (Entandrophragma angolense) Typical red-brown Mahogany coloured heartwood. Sapwood pale. Interlocked grain of medium texture, sometimes striped on quarter sawn faces. A well known commercial species in the Sapelewood, Sipo & Kosipo family Weight: 550kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Outdoor and indoor higher quality joinery, doors and window frames, cabinet work

Emeri (Terminalia ivorensis) Pale cream yellow heartwood and sapwood, medium coarse texture, a stable medium weight wood, sometimes compared with Oak. Weight: 550kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Joinery, trim, mouldings, light structures, window frames, furniture, domestic flooring

Guarea (Guarea cedrata) Mahogany red-brown heartwood. Sapwood pale. Stable Weight: 600kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Cabinet work, furniture, flooring, joinery, light structures

Ekki / Kaku (Lophira alata) Dark chocolate brown heartwood. Sapwood pale. Coarse texture. Very hard and extreme heavy. Resistance to marine borers. Acid resistant. Weight: 1050kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 19000 + N/mm2 Recommended usage: Sea defence, heavy structural work, piling mine guides

Kosipo (Entandrophragma candollei) Dark Mahogany red-brown heartwood. Sapwood pale. Of the same group as Sapelewood, but somewhat harder. Weight: 650kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Furniture, joinery, fitments, doors, frames, flooring, handicrafts, turnery

Kusia (Nauclea diderrichii) Characteristic yellow/gold heartwood,. Sapwood paler. Grain usually interlocked and of medium/coarse texture. A hard species. Widely used durable exterior quality timber Weight: 750kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Sea defence, dock work, decking, exterior structures, flooring, paneling

Koto (Pterygota macrocarpa) Creamy white heartwood and sapwood. Attractive quarter sawn face. Weight: 650kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Selected joinery, carpentry, boxes

Makore (Tieghmella heckelii) Dark red-brown heartwood. Paler sapwood. Stable. Reasonable bending properties. Valued commercial redwood Weight: 640kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Interior and exterior decorative and structural joinery, furniture, handles, carvings

Niangon (Heritiera utilis) Pink-brown Mahogany colour heartwood. Respected commercial redwood. Weight: 625kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Exterior joinery, window frames, doors

Odum (Milicia excelsa) Olive/yellowish brown heartwood. Sapwood pale. One of Africa’s most respected species. Teak alternative Weight: 650kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Exterior and joinery works, cabinet works, garden furniture, flooring, window frames

Ofram / Frake / Limba (Terminalia superba) Pale yellowish white heartwood and sapwood. Often strongly streaked with black. Stable. General purpose light coloured specie. Weight: 550kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Blockboard, selected furniture, mouldings and trim

Otie / Ilomba (Pycnaanthus angolensis) Greyish pale red heartwood and sapwood. General purpose interior specie Weight: 500kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 9-11000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Selected furniture, mouldings, interior utility joinery

Papao / Apa (Afzelia africana) Darkish red brown heartwood. Sapwood pale. Very stable. Strong and attractive species of good durability Weight: 825kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: High quality exterior and joinery, heavy construction, flooring, chemical vats, selected furniture, doors

Sapelewood (Entandrophragma cylindricum) Heartwood pinkish red of Mahogany colour. Very popular in world market. Well known commercial redwood widely used in furniture and joinery Weight: 650kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Good quality furniture, joinery, doors, cabinet works, turnery

Tetekon (Gilbertiodendron spp.) Dark red brown heartwood. Sapwood pale. Fairly coarse texture. Weight: 800kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Joinery, carpentry, boat construction, vehicle and wagon work, decking, mining timber, sleepers, flooring

Sipo (Entandrophragma utiele) Red brown Mahogany coloured heartwood. A wood of high reputation for appearance and performance Weight: 675kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: High quality furniture, doors and window frames, furniture and cabinet work

Wawa / Samba / Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon) Creamy white coloured heart and sapwood. Dries quickly and easy. Ghana’s most abundant commercial specie Weight: 375kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: below 9000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Blockboard, interior furniture, utility furniture, shoe heels, sauna linings, toys, woodware

Wawabima (Sterculia rhinopetala) Dark red brown heartwood with close grain of good strength Weight: 750kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 14-19000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Joinery, fittings, flooring, selected exterior structures

Wonton (Morus mesozygia) Yellowish brown heartwood. Hard and heavy. High resistance to wear. Some resemblance to Odum. Superb structural timber. Weight: 825kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 19000 + N/mm2 Recommended usage: General construction, structural work, flooring, woodware

Yaya (Amphimas pterocarpoides) Yellowish white heartwood. Superficial resemblance to Oak. Attractive appearance. Weight: 775kg/m3 at 12-15%MC Strength: 11-14000 N/mm2 Recommended usage: Interior furniture, paneling, trim, furniture, doors, mouldings