Nord Compensati S.p.A.

Description

(Sipo e Kaya)
Together with Teak, Mahogany is traditionally used in the boat building industry for its features of hardness, durability and beauty.
It comes from Africa, especially from the western regions.
Sipo has always been used for windows and door frames, furniture, floors, boat building and it is appreciated for its workability.
It nails, screws, glues easily and it may be stained and polished to an excellent finish. Its large sizes make it a giant in the forest, and give the possibility to obtain planks of considerable dimensions.

Botanical name

Entandrophragma Cylindricum it belongs to the family of Meliaceae.

Growth area

West and East Africa.

Technical characteristic

Heartwood has a medium to dark reddish-brown colour: its characteristic is a well defined ribbon striped figure on quartered surfaces. Has a peculiar cedar-like scent when freshly cut or planed/sanded. The timber is liable to ring or cup shakes.
The grain is interlocked or wavy and the texture is fairly fine.

Seasoning

It dries very slowly with a tendency to split and check. There is medium movement in service.

Specific gravity

Weight varies according with growing areas from 720 kg./m3 to 670 kg./m3. S.G. 0,72 - 0,67

Durability

The heartwood is durable, extremely resistant to preservative treatment but the sapwood is permeable.

The acid nature of oak will affect metals in indirect contact and cause corrosion: non-ferrous or galvanised metals should be used.

Uses and manufacturing

For furniture and cabinetmaking, boat building, dock and harbor works, sea defences, barrels (for cognac, wine and beer), poles into the ground and water.
High-class joinery, ecclesiastical works such as pews, pulpits and carving, floors.

Oak is rotary cut for plywood manufacture and sliced for very attractive “silver grain” figured veneers for panels and cabinets.