Etimoe Wood Overview for Epoxy Tabletops
Etimoe encompasses timber from African trees of the genus Copaifera, predominantly Copaifera mildbraedii, Copaifera salikounda, and Copaifera p.p. Listed for high-class cabinetwork, interior joinery, and furniture components, it offers an appealing red-brown heartwood with a medium texture and straight to slightly interlocked grain. Builders often seek it out because the wood frequently exhibits a distinctive moiré figure. According to technical data published in the CIRAD Tropix sheet, Etimoe logs arrive in substantial diameters ranging from 80 to 120 cm, yielding wide planks and slabs for large custom tabletops.
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Copaifera mildbraedii, Copaifera salikounda, Copaifera p.p. | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Red brown; texture medium; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain slight | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.71 | about 44.3 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 7.4 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 5.0 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 7.5 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 4.5 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 1.7 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.53 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Fibre saturation point | 26 % | |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.24 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 68 MPa | about 9,860 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 115 MPa | about 16,680 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 14,560 MPa | about 2,112,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 3 – moderately durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class M – moderately durable | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class D – durable (sapwood demarcated, risk limited | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 3 – poorly permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 2 – inside or under cover (dampness possible) | |
| Drying | rate normal; distortion: slight risk; checking: slight risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 53–65 °C | about 127–149 °F |
| Machining | blunting normal; saw teeth: ordinary or alloy steel; cutting tools: ordinary | |
| Nailing and screwing | Good | |
| 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).
Weight, Strength, and Hardness Profile
Etimoe is a medium-dense to heavy hardwood with an average specific gravity of 0.71 at 12% moisture content. In the shop, this translates to roughly 44.3 lb/ft³, meaning a standard 2-inch-thick slab weighs approximately 7.4 lb per square foot. It exhibits solid structural stiffness and strength, with a modulus of elasticity of 14,560 MPa (about 2,112,000 psi), a static bending strength of 115 MPa (about 16,680 psi), and a crushing strength of 68 MPa (about 9,860 psi).
On the French Monnin hardness scale, mature Etimoe rates at 5.0. It is critical to understand that the Monnin scale is an independent European measurement where higher numbers indicate harder wood; it is not a Janka rating and must never be converted to one. A Monnin rating of 5.0 indicates a wood with solid resistance to everyday surface wear, well-suited for long-lasting dining and conference tables.
Shrinkage and Behavior Beside Cast Epoxy
Integrating natural slabs with rigid cured resin requires careful consideration of dimensional stability. Etimoe has a fibre saturation point of 26%. Its total tangential shrinkage is 7.5%, and total radial shrinkage is 4.5%, producing a tangential-to-radial shrinkage ratio (St/Sr) of 1.7. Its coefficient of volumetric shrinkage is 0.53% per 1% change in moisture content.
A ratio of 1.7 denotes a moderate difference between tangential and radial movement, suggesting a slight tendency toward cupping if moisture fluctuates unevenly across the slab faces. Because cast epoxy cannot expand or shrink along with environmental shifts, Etimoe must be dried thoroughly to an equilibrium state before bonding. If wet or improperly balanced boards are sealed into an epoxy river table, seasonal movement across the 7.5% tangential plane can generate shear stress along the cast resin interface.
Pros and Cons for River Table Builds
Pros
- Visual Appeal: The warm red-brown coloration is frequently accompanied by a striking moiré figure that stands out under clear flood coats.
- Controlled Drying Behavior: The species exhibits a normal drying rate with only slight risks of distortion or checking, and no known specific risks of collapse or casehardening.
- Tool Compatibility: Blunting effects are normal, allowing the use of standard ordinary or alloy steel cutting tools and saw blades.
- Regulatory Clearance: Etimoe is not listed in the CITES Appendices (Washington Convention 2025).
- Mechanical Strength: High bending and crushing resistance ensures that large table spans remain stiff and stable.
Cons
- Natural Resin Content: Etimoe contains natural resin that can accumulate on blades, clog tooling, and interfere with unsealed adhesive bonds.
- Vulnerable Sapwood: The clearly demarcated sapwood measures 5 to 10 cm thick and lacks the natural dry-wood borer resistance found in the heartwood.
- Species Variation: Technical testing indicates that Copaifera mildbraedii generally exhibits lower physical properties than Copaifera salikounda.
- Permeability Limits: The heartwood is classified as poorly permeable (Class 3), requiring careful surface preparation before applying resin coats.
Shop Build Notes
Slab Selection
When picking Etimoe slabs, look for intact, well-figured heartwood displaying the characteristic moiré sheen. Be mindful that trees range from 80 to 120 cm in diameter, but sapwood extends 5 to 10 cm inwards from the bark. While heartwood is classified as moderately durable against fungi (Class 3) and termites (Class M), the thick sapwood is vulnerable to dry-wood borers and requires close inspection if you plan to keep live edges.
Drying
Etimoe dries at a normal rate. CIRAD Tropix suggested kiln schedules start at 53 °C and finish at 65 °C (roughly 127 to 149 °F). The process carries a slight risk of surface checking and distortion, while casehardening and collapse show no known specific risk. Ensure the wood is completely acclimatized to indoor moisture levels before pouring epoxy to minimize tangential movement against the resin seam.
Machining
Milling Etimoe is straightforward using ordinary workshop equipment and alloy steel sawteeth. Blunting is normal. However, shop notes highlight that Etimoe contains natural resin, which can occasionally gum up blades, router bits, and planers. Keep solvent or tool cleaner handy to clean tooling if cutting resistance increases. Fastening is reliable, as the wood exhibits good nailing and screwing properties.
Sealing and Finishing
Because Etimoe heartwood is poorly permeable (Class 3) and contains natural internal resin, bare wood prep is essential. Always clean and seal the river canyon edges with a thin base coat according to the resin maker's technical data sheet before attempting the deep pour. This barrier prevents natural wood extractives or resin from releasing air bubbles into the curing pour. Once fully cured, the dense red-brown surface sands cleanly and takes clear finishes exceptionally well.
Sources
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: When inspecting live edges, pay close attention to the sapwood: while Etimoe heartwood achieves Class D durability against dry-wood borers without chemical treatment, any retained sapwood (which runs 5 to 10 cm thick) carries an active borer risk and should be scrutinized or removed. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: Etimoe.)