East Indian Rosewood Information

East Indian Rosewood

East Indian Rosewood Vase by Peter C. of Colorado

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD FACTS

East Indian Rosewood is one of the darker rosewoods on the market, with heartwood varying in color from rich rose to deep brown. What really makes the wood special, though, are the purplish-black streaks it contains, which lend the wood a very aesthetically pleasing appearance.

East Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) is quite popular among woodturners and wood carvers, as well as fine furniture makers and musical instrument makers (particularly luthiers). East Indian Rosewood is considered a "tonewood" due to its consistent acoustic qualities, and came into wide use in the mid-1960s as a substitute for Brazilian Rosewood (which was overharvested and became an endangered species) in the making of guitar backs and sides.

Also known as Palisander and Sonokeling, among other names, East Indian Rosewood is native to India and Indonesia, and more recently has been grown in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria, and Kenya as well. Dalbergia latifolia trees can grow to heights of about 100 feet, with trunk diameters approaching 2.5 feet.

East Indian Rosewood is hard, dense, heavy, and strong, with an average specific gravity of about 0.85. Due to the wood's hardness, and the occasional chalky deposits it may contain, cutting edges can be blunted when working with East Indian Rosewood; sharp

tools are therefore essential. Also, adequate ventilation/dust extraction, as well as breathing, eye, and skin protection, are vital, as sanding the wood can create a lot of potentially irritating dust. (Some heat checking can also occur if excessive heat is generated while sanding.)

Freshly cut East Indian Rosewood has a pleasant aroma, but the scent dissipates as the wood dries. The color of East Indian Rosewood will darken somewhat over time to a deep brown, but the embedded dark streaks will always remain prominent.

Important Note: If you plan to turn a lidded box with East Indian Rosewood (a relatively common use for the wood), it's highly recommended to rough turn the piece first and to set it aside to dry further before proceeding. Doing so will help maintain a tight fit between the lid and the box.

EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD TIDBIT
Dalbergia latifolia trees are often harvested from tea plantations, where they're used for their shade.

A Dalbergia latifolia Tree