WAWA

THE TREE

WAWA IS ONE OF AFRICA'S LEADING EXPORT TIMBERS. THOUGH IT OCCURS WIDELY, IT IS PARTICULARLY COMMON IN THE IVORY COAST (SAMBA), GHANA (WAWA), NIGERIA (OBECHE) AND CAMEROON (AYOUS). IT COMES FROM A VERY LARGE TREE, 50m OR MORE IN HEIGHT WITH A LONG, STRAIGHT BOLE UP TO 1,5m IN DIAMETER.


THE WOOD

WAWA IS OF INTEREST AS IT IS ONE OF THE LIGHTEST HARDWOODS IN COMMON USE, GENERALLY ABOUT THE SAME WEIGHT AS THE LIGHTEST SOFTWOODS, BUT STILL ABOUT TWICE THE WEIGHT OF BALSA. IT IS ALSO NOTED FOR ITS ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE; IT IS A PALE STRAW-YELLOW WOOD WITH A HIGH NATURAL LUSTER GIVING IT A SILKY SHINE. IT HAS A MEDIUM TEXTURE AND AN INTERLOCKED GRAIN. IT HAS AN UNPLEASANT SMELL WHEN GREEN BUT USUALLY DOES NOT PERSIST AFTER DRYING.

TECHNICAL PROPERTIES

WAWA TOLERATES VERY RAPID DRYING WITH LITTLE DEGRADATION AND, ONCE DRY, IS VERY STABLE IN USE. BEING LIGHT IN WEIGHT, IT IS NOT STRONG; IT SAWS EASILY AND WORKS WELL, TAKING A GOOD FINISH PROVIDED THAT CUTTERS ARE KEPT SHARP. SPECIAL CARE IS NEEDED IN CUTTING END-GRAIN SURFACES, AS THEY TEND TO CRUMBLE. IT PEELS TO GIVE AN EXCELLENT VENEER. IT IS PERISHABLE AND RAPIDLY ATTACKED BY FUNGI IN CONDITIONS FAVORING DECAY.


USES

WAWA IS VERY POPULAR WHERE ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE, EASE OF WORKING BUT LITTLE MECHANICAL STRENGTH ARE DEMANDED. IT IS USED FOR FRAMING OF CABINETWORK AND FOR DRAWER SIDES, ESPECIALLY IN WHITEWOOD FURNITURE, AND FOR MOULDINGS AND INTERIOR JOINERY. IT IS USED FOR THE SOLID CORE OF BLOCKBOARD AND VERY COMMONLY FOR PLYWOOD.
 SOFT WOODS: