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CHAMFUTA

Afzelia quanzensis
Afzelia quanzensis of the family leguminosae

Very hard, dense, and heavy, this African wood is reportedly difficult to work and causes rapid dulling of cutting edges. I haven't cut enough of it to attest to that, but I can certainly confirm that it is a very hard wood and the dulling seems likely to me.

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my samples:


two planks. When I first saw these, I thought I had been sent African mahogany by mistake, but as soon as I picked them up, the density made it very clear that they were not mahogany. Although the average rated density for this species is about 50 pounds per cubic foot, these planks are 60 pounds per cubic foot.


small plank and end grain, cut from one of the planks directly above


end grain closeup of the piece directly above

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web pics:


planks