Moabi (Baillonella toxisperma) for Epoxy Tabletops
Moabi, also recognized under the botanical synonym Mimusops djave and the trade name African pearwood, is a dense African hardwood frequently evaluated for high-class cabinetwork, furniture, and heavy-use surfaces. When pairing wide timber slabs or boards with casting resins, builders must evaluate physical density, dimensional stability, and tool interactions. The technical properties below are drawn directly from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet.
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Baillonella toxisperma, Mimusops djave (synonymous) | |
| Other trade names | African pearwood | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Red brown; texture fine; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain slight | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.87 | about 54.3 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 9.1 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 6.8 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 8.7 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 6.5 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 1.3 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.64 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Fibre saturation point | 23 % | |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.28 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 74 MPa | about 10,730 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 143 MPa | about 20,740 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 21,040 MPa | about 3,052,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 1 – very durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class D – durable | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class D – durable (sapwood demarcated, risk limited | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 3-4 – poorly or not permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 4 – in ground or fresh water contact | |
| Drying | rate slow; distortion: slight risk; checking: high risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 53–65 °C | about 127–149 °F |
| Machining | blunting high; saw teeth: stellite-tipped; cutting tools: tungsten carbide | |
| Nailing and screwing | Good but pre-boring necessary | |
| CITES status | This species is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025). |
Values from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet (average values for mature wood, 12% moisture content where noted). US-unit conversions are calculated by BigEpoxy (1 MPa = 145.04 psi; density = specific gravity × 62.43 lb/ft³).
What does Moabi look like in a finished tabletop?
Moabi heartwood ranges in color from pink-brown to a darker red-brown and features fine veining throughout. Its texture is fine, and the grain is typically straight or slightly interlocked. On quartersawn surfaces, the timber often displays a satin-like aspect that reflects light attractively under clear tabletop finishes. If live edges or outer slab profiles are retained, builders will notice a clearly demarcated sapwood zone measuring between 4 and 6 cm thick.
How heavy and hard is Moabi wood?
Moabi is a distinctly heavy timber with an average specific gravity of 0.87 at 12% moisture content. In shop terms, this corresponds to a density of roughly 54.3 lb/ft³, meaning a 2-inch-thick slab weighs approximately 9.1 lb per square foot. On the Monnin hardness test—a French measurement system where higher numbers indicate harder surfaces rather than a Janka rating—Moabi scores 6.8. This level of hardness provides strong resistance to indentation, while its crushing strength reaches 74 MPa (about 10,730 psi) and its static bending strength measures 143 MPa (about 20,740 psi).
How does Moabi move, and how does that affect epoxy rivers?
CIRAD Tropix classifies Moabi as a moderately stable wood. It has a total tangential shrinkage of 8.7% and a total radial shrinkage of 6.5%, resulting in a tangential-to-radial shrinkage ratio of 1.3. Because this ratio is relatively close to 1.0, slabs have a lower tendency to cup or twist as moisture fluctuates compared to timbers with unbalanced shrinkage ratios. However, with a coefficient of volumetric shrinkage of 0.64% per 1% change in moisture content and a fiber saturation point of 23%, deep wood movement can still exert notable shear stresses on a rigid epoxy river bond line if the wood is exposed to wide humidity swings.
What drying risks should builders watch for with Moabi slabs?
Moabi exhibits a slow drying rate and carries a high risk of checking during seasoning, though risks of distortion remain slight and there are no known specific risks for collapse or casehardening. Surface drying must take place under cover, and subsequent kiln drying requires careful handling. Suggested kiln programs utilize temperatures between 53 and 65 °C (about 127 to 149 °F). CIRAD recommends drying Moabi to a low moisture content of 10% to 12% before fabrication because of its overall shrinkage values.
How difficult is it to cut, route, and machine Moabi?
Working Moabi requires substantial machine power. The species contains silica, which causes a high blunting effect on cutting edges. CIRAD advises the use of stellite-tipped saw teeth and tungsten carbide tooling to maintain clean edges and prevent burnishing. Woodworkers should also ensure adequate dust collection, as Moabi sawdust can irritate mucous membranes during cutting and sanding operations.
What are the key gluing, fastening, and assembly rules?
Because of Moabi’s high specific gravity (0.87), gluing must be performed strictly in compliance with established codes of practice and adhesive manufacturer guidelines to achieve dependable bonding against both wood and cured epoxy. For mechanical joinery and base attachments, the timber holds screws and nails well, but thorough pre-boring is necessary because the dense wood tends to split when fasteners are driven directly.
What is Moabi’s natural durability and CITES status?
Moabi heartwood is exceptionally durable, earning a Class 1 rating (very durable) against wood-decay fungi, along with Class D ratings against termites and dry-wood borers. It is poorly permeable to preservative treatments (Class 3-4), but its natural resistance satisfies Class 4 end-use requirements for ground or fresh water contact without chemical treatment. In addition, Moabi is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025), making it legally clear of trade restrictions under that framework.
Sources
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: CIRAD Tropix notes that Moabi naturally covers European use class 5 (marine environments submerged in sea or brackish water) due to its high density combined with natural silica content, underlining just how resistant the raw heartwood is to environmental breakdown. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Moabi.)