 Kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis)
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Common Name(s): Kiaat, Muninga Scientific Name: Pterocarpus angolensis Distribution: South-central Africa Tree Size:40-60 ft (12-18 m) tall, 1.5-2.5 ft (.5-.8 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 44 lbs/ft3 (705 kg/m3) Hardness: 1,480 lbf (6,580 N) Bending Strength: 13,700 lbf/in2 (94,480 kPa) Elasticity: 1,220,000 lbf/in2 (8,410 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 2.0%, Tangential: 4.0%, Volumetric: 6.0%, T/R Ratio: 2.0 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood color can vary widely from a lighter golden brown, to a darker reddish or purplish brown. Kiaat’s colors reportedly get lighter upon exposure to light.
Grain/Pore: Has a medium texture with mid-sized pores. The grain is straight to interlocked.
Durability: Heartwood is rated as being durable to moderately durable. There are mixed reports as to its resistance to insect damage, ranging from very resistant to susceptible.
Workability: Generally easy to work with tools, though if there is interlocked grain present, it may tearout during planing operations. Moderate blunting effect on cutters. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Smell: Has a very mild, aromatic scent while being worked.
Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Kiaat has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price Range: Sometimes available in the US and intended as a substitute for Teak. Kiaat is likely to be much less expensive than Teak, and should be priced on the low end of the spectrum for exotic imported wood.
Comments: As mentioned above, Kiaat is sometimes treated as a substitue for Teak. The wood has outstanding stability, and should remain quite stable in the midst of seasonal changes. Common uses for Kiaat include: furniture, boatbuilding, veneer, turnings, and other small wooden objects.
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Kiaat (sanded) |
 Kiaat (sealed) |
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