Utile

General Description

West African Utile is a 'sister' species to Sapele but usually has a more interesting grain and gives a better 'finish', albeit at a higher price. Widths and lengths may be a little smaller than Sapele.

Working Properties

  • Difficult to machine due to irregular grain
  • Glues and nails well
  • Interlocked grain may cause tearing in planing and shaping
  • Good finishing but filing necessary

Physical Properties

  • Moderate hardness and weight
  • Medium bending and crushing strengths, not recommended for steam bending
  • Wood bending difficult
  • Kiln-dries satisfactorily, usually with only slight degrade
  • Air-dries at a slow to moderate rate with a slight to marked tendency to end-check and warp
  • Movement in service is rated as medium

Durability

  • Heartwood is moderately resistant to attack by decay, fungi and termites
  • Sapwood is liable to attack by powder-post beetle
  • Heartwood is extremely resistant to treatment; sapwood is easy to treat

Main Uses

  • Furniture and cabinetwork
  • Joinery
  • Decorative veneers
  • Plywood
  • Boat construction