Afrormosia wood movement, board-foot & weight calculator
- Janka
- 1,560lbf
- Density
- 42.6lb/ft³
- T/R ratio
- 2.1
- Spec. gravity
- 0.61
Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata) is an imported species. It has a Janka side hardness of 1,560 lbf, a specific gravity of 0.61, and an air-dry density near 43 lb/ft³ (682 kg/m³) (mechanical values at 12% moisture content). It shrinks 6.4% tangentially and 3% radially from green to oven-dry (T/R ratio 2.1), so a 12-inch flatsawn board moves about 0.15 in (≈ 5/32 in) across a 6-point moisture swing (about 6%→12% MC).
Compute Afrormosia: movement, weight & board footage
Every number below is worked from Afrormosia's own shrinkage and density figures, not looked up from a table — change the width, moisture swing, or board size in the calculators linked alongside.
Cross-grain movement by board width
| Board width | Flatsawn (tangential) | Quartersawn (radial) |
|---|---|---|
| 2″ | 0.026″ (≈ 1/32 in) | 0.012″ (≈ 0 in) |
| 3″ | 0.038″ (≈ 1/32 in) | 0.018″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 4″ | 0.051″ (≈ 1/16 in) | 0.024″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 6″ | 0.077″ (≈ 1/16 in) | 0.036″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 8″ | 0.102″ (≈ 3/32 in) | 0.048″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| 10″ | 0.128″ (≈ 1/8 in) | 0.06″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| 12″ | 0.154″ (≈ 5/32 in) | 0.072″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| 16″ | 0.205″ (≈ 7/32 in) | 0.096″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
Need a different width or moisture swing? Run the movement calculator preloaded with Afrormosia. At a T/R ratio of 2.13, Afrormosia is moderately unstable — it moves substantially more tangentially than radially, so flatsawn stock is noticeably cup-prone and quartersawn stock is worth the extra cost in wide panels.
Board footage & weight, standard sizes
| Nominal size × length | Board feet | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 × 8′ | 2.67 bd ft | 9.5 lb |
| 1×6 × 8′ | 4 bd ft | 14.2 lb |
| 1×8 × 8′ | 5.33 bd ft | 18.9 lb |
| 1×10 × 8′ | 6.67 bd ft | 23.7 lb |
| 1×12 × 8′ | 8 bd ft | 28.4 lb |
| 2×4 × 8′ | 5.33 bd ft | 18.9 lb |
| 2×6 × 8′ | 8 bd ft | 28.4 lb |
| 2×8 × 8′ | 10.67 bd ft | 37.9 lb |
Different length or size? Run the board foot calculator or the weight calculator, both preloaded with Afrormosia.
Seasonal movement by city
| City | Driest month (EMC) | Most-humid month (EMC) | EMC swing | 12″ board movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | Jun · 4.4% | Dec · 9% | 4.6 pts | 0.118″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
| Chicago, IL | May · 12.3% | Dec · 15.1% | 2.8 pts | 0.072″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| Miami, FL | Apr · 12.2% | Sep · 14.4% | 2.2 pts | 0.056″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| Boston, MA | Apr · 11.5% | Sep · 12.8% | 1.3 pts | 0.033″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| Denver, CO | Jul · 8% | Dec · 10.5% | 2.5 pts | 0.064″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| Seattle, WA | Jul · 12% | Dec · 16.9% | 4.9 pts | 0.125″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
Driven by Afrormosia's tangential shrinkage of 6.4%. These are outdoor equilibrium-moisture figures, so they are an upper bound — a climate-controlled interior swings less. How this is calculated.
How Afrormosia compares
Ranked against the 196 species in the Wood Handbook tables this site carries.
- Hardness: at 1,560 lbf, Afrormosia is harder than 76% of the 157 species with a Janka figure.
- Weight: at 42.6 lb/ft³ it is heavier than 65% of the 170 species measured — an 8-foot 1×6 board weighs about 14.2 lb.
- Stability: its T/R ratio of 2.13 is more even than 22% of the 196 species here — as humidity changes, 78% of them hold their shape more evenly.
See Afrormosia plotted against every species we carry: the full Janka hardness chart and the full density chart .
Species with a similar working profile
Closest matches on hardness, weight and stability together — useful when Afrormosia is unavailable or priced out.
- Sugar Maple is a common substitute for Afrormosia : nearly identical hardness, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Northern Red Oak is a common substitute for Afrormosia : 17% softer, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- American Beech is a common substitute for Afrormosia : 17% softer, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Bur Oak is a common substitute for Afrormosia : 12% softer, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
| Species | Janka | Density | T/R |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Maple | 1,450 lbf | 44 | 2.06 |
| Northern Red Oak | 1,290 lbf | 44 | 2.15 |
| American Beech | 1,300 lbf | 44.7 | 2.16 |
| Bur Oak | 1,370 lbf | 44.7 | 2 |
About Afrormosia
Afrormosia or kokrodua (Pericopsis elata), a large West African tree, is sometimes used as a substitute for teak (Tectona grandis). The IUCN rates the species as endangered because of over-exploitation, and it is listed in CITES Appendix II. The heartwood is fine textured, with straight to interlocked grain. The wood is brownish yellow with darker streaks and moderately hard and heavy, weighing about 700 kg m–3 (43 lb ft–3) at 15% moisture content. The wood strongly resembles teak in appearance but lacks its oily nature and has a different texture. The wood dries readily with little degrade and has good dimensional stability. It is somewhat heavier and stronger than teak. The heartwood is highly resistant to decay fungi and termite attack and is extremely durable under adverse conditions. Afrormosia is often used for the same purposes as teak, such as boat construction, joinery, flooring, furniture, interior woodwork, and decorative veneer.
Durability & sustainability
CITES status: Afrormosia is listed on CITES Appendix II, which restricts international trade. Pericopsis elata (afrormosia/kokrodua) is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Properties
| Specific gravity | 0.61 |
|---|---|
| Janka hardness (side) | 1,560 lbf |
| Density (air-dry, 12% MC) | 42.6 lb/ft³ (682 kg/m³) ovendry-weight basis: 38.1 lb/ft³ |
| Weight per board foot (air-dry) | 3.55 lb |
| Radial shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 3% |
| Tangential shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 6.4% |
| Volumetric shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 10.7% |
| T/R ratio (stability indicator) | 2.1 |
Shrinkage is total green-to-oven-dry (Table 4-4); strength values are at 12% MC. Full bases and the derivation formulas are on the methodology page.
Data: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), public domain.