Sipo: the complete guide to sipo wood

Sipo is a class 3 exotic wood with a reddish-brown tone that can tend towards purple. Resistant to wood insects and elegant, it is often used in cabinetmaking and joinery for these various qualities.

Would you like to learn more about sipo? WoodPartners explains everything you need to know about sipo wood:

• What is sipo wood?
• What are the characteristics of sipo?
• Sipo wood: what is it used for?
• How do you maintain exotic sipo wood?
• Other questions about sipo

What is sipo wood?

Sipo wood is an exotic wood species,like teak, from the Meliaceae family and going by the scientific name "Entandrophragma Utile". Coming from Africa, sipo is found in the centre, the west and the east, in various countries such as Angola, Gabon and Uganda.

Sipo wood is used outdoors as well as indoors because of its appearance and its resistance to wood insects.

Finally, different names are used for it depending on the country:

• Germany: Sipo-Mahogany;
• Angola : Kalungi;
• Gabon : Assi;
• United Kingdom : Utile;
• Ivory Coast : Sipo;
• Uganda : Mufumbi.

What are the characteristics of sipo?

Sipo has several characteristics of interest for joinery and cabinetmaking, such as a reddish-brown colouring, distinct sapwood, good resistance to wood insects and straightforward machining.

Description of sipo wood

• Colour : reddish brown;
• Sapwood (the soft, light-coloured part of the wood that forms each year under the bark): clearly distinct;
• Grain : medium;
• Grain direction or fibre orientation : interlocked;
• Interlocked grain or direction contrary to the axis : slight.

Description of the sipo log

• Diameter of the sipo tree : between 60 and 120 cm;
• Thickness of the sapwood : between 2 and 6 cm;
• Preservation in the forest : average.

The physical properties of sipo wood

• Density (at 12% moisture content with 1 MPa = 1 N/mm²): 0.62;
• Hardness (at 12% moisture content with 1 MPa = 1 N/mm²): 3.0, but can vary from soft to medium-hard;
• Volumetric shrinkage coefficient : 0.42%;
• Total tangential shrinkage (TS): 6.4%;
• Total radial shrinkage (RS): 4.6%;
• Ratio between TS and RS : 1.4;
• Fibre saturation point : 30%;
• Stability in service : from stable to moderately stable.

The natural durability and treatability of sipo

• Resistance to fungi: class 2-3, from durable to moderately durable;
• Resistance to dry wood insects : class D, durable;
• Resistance to termites : class M, moderately durable;
• Treatability : class 4, not treatable;
• Use class: wood class 3, for outdoor use out of contact with the ground.

Drying exotic sipo wood

• Drying speed: normal;
• Risk of distortion : low, but can increase with kiln drying;
• Risk of case-hardening (accidental hardening): none;
• Risk of checks (splits): low;
• Risk of collapse (waviness, separation of the wood): none.

Sawing and machining sipo wood

• Blunting effect: normal;
• Sawing teeth : ordinary steel or alloy;
• Machining tools : ordinary;
• Suitability for peeling : good;
• Suitability for slicing : good.

Assembling sipo

For the assembly of sipo, two steps are important:

• Nailing and screwing: good holding;
• Gluing: satisfactory, but care must be taken not to stain the wood.

Sipo wood: what is it used for?

Sipo wood can be used for a variety of applications such as veneer, cabinetmaking, joinery, staircases, roof structures, furnishing, panelling, flooring, mouldings and roller shutters. However, 2 uses are more frequent for sipo:

• Sipo in cabinetmaking: thanks to its fine colouring, its ease of working and its increased resistance to wood insects, it is an exotic wood valued in cabinetmaking, for the making of furniture.

• Sipo wood for interior and exterior joinery: relatively soft and with good mechanical strength, this wood species is of interest for joinery, indoors as well as outdoors: windows, roller shutters, staircases, flooring, etc.

How do you maintain exotic sipo wood?

Red exotic sipo wood can be maintained easily by following these few tips:

• Regular, gentle cleaning: you can clean sipo wood regularly using a cloth, a soft brush and water to maintain your wood and remove ingrained dirt.

• Applying a protective oil : to protect sipo from attack and make it last over time, we advise you to apply a protective oil.

• Reducing its exposure to the sun : sipo wood can dry out slightly with increased exposure to the sun, so you may prefer parasols or awnings to protect it.

Other questions about sipo

Which class for sipo?

Sipo is a class 3 wood, which can be used indoors as well as outdoors, without direct contact with the ground.

What is the price per m2 of sipo wood?

The price of sipo wood varies according to the use you make of it, the form in which you find it and the dimensions you are looking for: wood panels, plywood sheets, sipo wood boards, etc.

Sipo, this elegant wood that resists wood insects, is often used in joinery and cabinetmaking. Now, you know everything there is to know about sipo wood: its characteristics, its uses and the maintenance advice from WoodPartners.