Makore
Scientific name: Tieghemella heckelii
Overview
Makore is an attractive African hardwood known for its rich reddish to pinkish-brown color and fine, even texture. Native to West and Central Africa, it is commonly used in furniture, cabinetry, veneer, and decorative millwork.
While Makore is sometimes compared to mahogany in appearance, it tends to display more variation and can develop striking figure, particularly in quartersawn or rotary-cut material.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Makore
- Scientific Name: Tieghemella heckelii
- Region: African Hardwoods (West & Central Africa)
- Tree Size: 100–150 ft tall, 3–6 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft³ (675 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,260 lbf
- Color: Pinkish red to reddish brown, often darkening with age
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Makore is identified by its warm reddish coloration, fine texture, and occasional ribbon-like or mottled figure. Quartersawn material may display subtle striping, while some boards show more dramatic visual variation.
Color tends to deepen slightly with age and finishing.
Key identification traits include:
- Pinkish to reddish-brown heartwood
- Fine, uniform texture
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Occasional decorative figure in select boards
Working Properties
Makore is generally considered moderately easy to work, though interlocked grain can present challenges.
- Machines well with sharp tools
- Tear-out may occur when planing interlocked grain
- Sands and finishes smoothly
- Glues reliably
- Stable when properly dried
Its combination of workability and appearance makes it suitable for fine woodworking applications.
Safety Note
Dust from Makore may cause skin or respiratory irritation in some individuals. Proper dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended when machining or sanding.
Common Uses
Makore is commonly used in decorative and functional applications, including:
- Furniture and cabinetry
- Veneer and plywood
- Architectural millwork and paneling
- Interior doors
- Turned objects
Highly figured material is often reserved for focal pieces or veneer applications.
Sustainability & Notes
Makore is not currently listed under CITES, but regional availability can fluctuate due to harvesting pressures. Responsible sourcing is encouraged.
Buyers should work with suppliers that document legal and sustainable harvesting practices.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
African Mahogany – A well-known African hardwood with similar reddish-brown color and workability, widely used for furniture, cabinetry, and architectural millwork.
Sapele – Another African hardwood often compared to mahogany due to its strength and decorative ribbon grain, commonly used in furniture and veneers.
Bosse – A medium-density African hardwood with somewhat similar color and grain, frequently used in cabinetry, veneers, and interior woodworking.
Related Guides
How to Start a Wood Collection
Highlights the value of including lesser-known but high-quality species like Makore in a curated wood sample collection to represent the diversity of tropical hardwoods.
Machining Dense Tropical Hardwoods
Understanding grain direction and density helps achieve cleaner cuts and better results when working with tropical hardwoods.
Finishing Oils vs Polyurethane on Exotic Species
Choosing the right finish can enhance the rich color and natural grain patterns found in decorative hardwoods.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Makore is appreciated by collectors for its rich coloration, fine texture, and potential for decorative figure. Well-seasoned material typically displays a pinkish-brown to deep reddish-brown tone that becomes warmer and more uniform with age and finishing.
Straight-grained boards are commonly favored for furniture, cabinetry, and architectural millwork, while pieces exhibiting ribbon stripe, subtle curl, or interlocked grain are often reserved for accent applications or display. Boards with consistent color and tight grain are particularly desirable for veneer and higher-end uses.
Because Makore can vary significantly depending on growing region and drying quality, older, properly seasoned stock is often preferred by collectors. Material that has been carefully dried tends to show improved stability and reduced movement, making it more suitable for long-term collecting, reference samples, or curated wood libraries.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
Interested in supporting this species? Visit our Adopt a Species and Conservation Partners pages to learn more.
Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• SKIL 5-Inch Random Orbital Sander with Cyclonic Dust Box for smooth surface preparation and finish sanding
https://amzn.to/4uZgf2l
• The Complete Manual of Woodworking for detailed guidance on woodworking design, techniques, and tools
https://amzn.to/4uX3nd5
• 10-Inch 120-Tooth Fine-Finish Woodworking Saw Blade for clean, precise cuts in hardwoods and finish materials
https://amzn.to/4fpeSVU
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