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CHAMFUTA

Afzelia quanzensis
Afzelia quanzensis of the family Fabaceae (syn. Leguminosae) the legume, pea, or bean family

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.

my samples: NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K) colors will vary under other lighting conditions

both sides of a sample plank of chanfuta (an alternate spelling) / Afzelia quanzensis


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of chanfuta (an alternate spelling) / Afzelia quanzensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of chanfuta (an alternate spelling) / Afzelia quanzensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


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 and END GRAIN UPDATEof the piece directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of chamfuti (an alternate spelling) / Afzelia quanzensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. Mark has this as chamfuti.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


NOT A RAW WOOD COLOR --- both faces of this sample have a light coat of clear paste wax
both sides of a sample plank of chanfuta (an alternate spelling) / Afzelia quanzensis --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above

web pics:

plank with wet and dry areas


planks


bowl blank and turning stock


bowls listed as chamfuta.