Wood Species Guide
Obeche
Triplochiton scleroxylon
Also called: Ayous, Wawa, Samba, Abachi, African Whitewood, Arere
What Obeche looks like
Creamy white to pale straw yellow, with little difference between heartwood and sapwood. Poorly dried stock can show gray fungal stain.
Grain and texture
Interlocked grain with a medium to coarse but even texture and a soft luster.
Working Obeche: planing, cutting and gluing
Very light and easy to cut, carve and shape, though the interlocked grain can tear out and the soft surface crushes under dull tools. Sharp tools and fine sanding give a clean surface. It glues and nails easily.
Finishing Obeche: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes paint and stain well once sealed, but soaks up the first coat. Seal coat before epoxy, because the light, porous wood releases air. Light colors stay true under water-based finishes.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not rot resistant and prone to borers and termites, so it is strictly an indoor wood. It is stable once dry. In Florida, keep it inside and well finished, and check incoming stock for borer holes.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Obeche is a light, budget-friendly wood for carving, model building, drawer parts, shelving and painted projects, and some builders use it for electric guitar bodies. It is too soft for a working tabletop. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Obeche
Veneer, plywood, carving, model making, light furniture, drawer parts, interior millwork and the occasional guitar body.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Rated Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and it is also grown on plantations in West Africa.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Respiratory / asthma
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
Obeche dust can sensitize, and asthma, rashes, sneezing and eye irritation are reported among people who work it often. Most hobbyists do fine with good dust control.
- In the shop
- Dust extraction + respirator when sanding; gloves for sensitive skin
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Obeche is a well-known sensitizer in sawmills and joinery shops. Reported reactions include skin rashes, eye irritation, sneezing, runny nose and asthma. Use dust extraction and a respirator, and stop working it if you start reacting.
Obeche in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Obeche listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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