About Our Exotic Woods

About Our Exotic Woods - Page 1 (Woods A-L)

Our inventory of exotic woods traces its roots, so to speak, to virtually all across the globe — including various locales in Africa, Asia, and South America, as well as Mexico and the United States.

Unless otherwise noted, most, if not all, of our burl woods and larger non-burl woods (more than two inches thick) have been air dried, with the moisture content of individual pieces varying. Most, if not all, of our non-burl woods less than two inches thick have been kiln dried. Most of the burl woods have been treated with Paraffin wax to help prevent cracking, and some have also been treated with Anchor Seal on the ends. Most of the non-burl woods have been treated with Anchor Seal. None of the woods, burl or non-burl, has been impregnated. The wax will come off naturally when the wood is turned, or it can be scraped off using a simple paint scraper.

The pieces on each page are listed in size order, based on the second number in the dimensions. For example, a piece that measures 1.5" x 3" x 12" would come before a piece that's 1" x 5" x 7" and after a piece that's 2" x 2.5" x 24".

We generally ship within two or three business days of receiving an order.

Click on Any Photo Below for a Larger Version

Name/Origin of Exotic Wood	Photo	Finished Product Photo (if available)	Additional Details
African Blackwood Botanical Name: Dalbergia melanoxylon Country of Origin: South Africa			Heartwood is brown to purplish-black Black-streaked figure Very hard and heavy wood
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, musical instruments

Amboyna Burl Botanical Name: Pterocarpus indicus Countries of Origin: Myanmar, Laos			Varies in color from yellow to golden brown to red Fragrant aroma Swirl-pattern figure Considered excellent for both turning and finishing
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, pool-cue butts, musical instruments, various types of handles

Asian Satinwood (Pyinma) Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia spp. Countries of Origin: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar			Distinguished by its striking curly/fiddlebacked grain pattern Heartwood ranges from creamy white to light gray Moderately hard; resistant to wearing and marring Machines well Takes a high polish
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, furniture, flooring, boat building

Australian Brown Mallee Burl Botanical Name: Eucalyptus viridis Country of Origin: Australia			Special permission is required from the Australian government to harvest this wood Hard and dense Often features a natural edge (all of our pieces do) Finishes very well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery

Australian Myrtle Botanical Name: Nothofagus cunninghamii Countries of Origin: Australia and Tasmania			Also called Myrtle Beech Trees are host to an orange-yellow fungus that produces sweet and edible clusters (about the size of small apples) Known for having high bending strength Takes a high polish
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, cabinets, furniture, flooring

Birdseye Maple Botanical Name: Acer saccharum Countries of Origin: U.S. and Canada			Figure consists of small "eyes" (thus, the name) Requires working with sharp tools to prevent grain tearout Stains and polishes well Very durable
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, musical instruments, fine furniture, cabinets

Black Ebony (Gabon) Black Ebony (Indian) Botanical Name: Diospyros crassiflora, Diospyros ebenum Countries of Origin: Gabon (Africa) and India			Heartwood is jet black, sometimes with a wavy grain Gabon black ebony is said to be the blackest wood in the world Very hard, dense, and heavy wood Somewhat difficult to work with, requiring sharp tools
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, inlay work, musical instruments, piano keys

Black Palm Botanical Name: Borassus flabellifer Country of Origin: Myanmar (Southeast Asia)			Stringy grain with multicolored, streak-like figure Dense hardwood Somewhat difficult to work with, requiring sharp tools
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, inlay work, cooking spoons and other utensils, chopsticks

Black-and-White Ebony Botanical Name: Diospyros embryopteris Countries of Origin: Myanmar, Laos (Southeast Asia)			Features distinct black streaks Rare species of ebony Turns and finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery

Bocote Botanical Name: Cordia spp. Country of Origin: Mexico			Figure consists of multicolored, wavy stripes, which range from mustard yellow to dark brown Can sometimes be sliced into highly decorative veneers for paneling
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, boxes, furniture, boat decking

Bolivian Rosewood Botanical Name: Machaerium scleroxylon Country of Origin: Bolivia			Also known as Pau Ferro Sometimes used as a substitute for Brazilian rosewood Heartwood is light to medium brown or purple with dark growth lines Finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, musical instruments, handles, furniture, inlay work, veneer

Brown Ebony Botanical Name: Caesalpina paraguariensis Country of Origin: Argentina			Features 3D-ish figure in edge-grained portions Very dense hardwood Stable wood that works and polishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, handles, veneer

Bubinga Botanical Name: Guibourtia spp. Countries of Origin: Cameroon, Gabon (Africa)			Also known as African rosewood Heartwood is light reddish-brown Turns and polishes well Imported Bubinga logs are huge, weighing up to 10 tons Logs with very irregular grain are cut into veneers called Kevasingo
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, fine furniture, handles, musical instruments

Buckeye Burl (Colored) Botanical Name: Aeculus octandra Country of Origin: United States			Recommended for experienced woodturners only, due to embedded debris and fragility Blackened and sometimes spalted as a result of being sun baked in metal containers Very light weight and dry Typically features a multitude of colors and Swiss cheese-like pockets
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, inlay, guitars

Burmese Blackwood Botanical Name: Dalbergia cultrata Countries of Origin: Myanmar (formerly Burma), Laos, Thailand			Despite its name, the color of this wood varies from shades of brown to black Turns and carves well Takes a nice polish
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, furniture

Burmese Rosewood Botanical Name: Dalbergia olivera Country of Origin: Myanmar (formerly Burma)			Heartwood has variegated colors, from burgundy to light brown Hard and dense Maintains its color well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, furniture, musical instruments, cabinets, walking sticks

Canarywood Botanical Name: Centrolobium spp. Country of Origin: Brazil			Heartwood is yellow and orange, sometimes with rich red streaks Grain varies from straight to irregular Hard, heavy, and strong; very durable Distinctive smell when cut
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, cabinets, veneer, ship components

Caribbean Rosewood Botanical Name: Metopium brownei Country of Origin: Mexico			Also known as Chechen and Black Poisonwood Hard, dense, and tightly grained Takes lacquer finishes well, but responds poorly to polyurethane Dust created by cutting or sanding can cause respiratory problems; proper precautions should be taken
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, cabinets, furniture, flooring, veneer

Cocobolo Botanical Name: Dalbergia retusa Country of Origin: Mexico			Natural oils in the wood make it practically waterproof (thereby making it a prized wood for knife handles) Very durable Needle-like crystals embedded in the wood can cause skin irritation in some people; other people are allergic to the wood's dust, so proper precautions should be taken
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, inlay, veneer, chess pieces

Curly Bubinga Botanical Name: Guibourtia spp. Countries of Origin: Cameroon, Gabon (Africa)			Heartwood is reddish brown, usually with lighter red to purple veins The wood's fine pores often contain a reddish gum, which can make drying, carving, or gluing difficult Cuts and finishes well; works well with hand tools, despite its hardness
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, handles, furniture, musical instruments, veneer

Curly Maple Botanical Name: Acer saccharum Country of Origin: U.S., Pacific Northwest			Figure consists of crisscrossing "curly" lines and streaks Heartwood is a light cream color Turns well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, handles, drum sticks, musical instruments

East Indian Rosewood Botanical Name: Dalbergia latifolia Country of Origin: India			Heartwood is a purple/brownish color Figure consists of darker colored streaks Grain is typically interlocked Heavy and strong
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, musical instruments

Hawaiian Koa Botanical Name: Acacia koa Country of Origin: U.S.			Found exclusively on the Hawaiian Islands Excellent for musical instruments because of high resonant properties Moderately heavy Works and finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Bowls, boxes, musical instruments, knife handles, gunstocks, furniture, veneer

Honduran Rosewood Botanical Name: Dalbergia stevensonii Country of Origin: Belize			Species is endemic to Belize When freshly cut, sapwood emits an apple-like scent Denser and tougher than Brazilian Rosewood Turns and finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, musical instruments, handles, furniture, cabinets

Honey Mesquite Botanical Name: Prosopis alba Country of Origin: Argentina			Spiral to interlocked grain often creates a 3D-ish appearance Very dense Honey-like scent Widely used in Argentina for furniture making and fine carpentry; especially prized for its low volumetric shrinkage
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, furniture, flooring

Katalox Botanical Name: Swartzia cubensis Country of Origin: Mexico			Heartwood is dark brown, reddish brown, or almost black in color Very dense Somewhat difficult to work with Blackish pieces are sometimes used as a substitute for Ebony
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, carving, handles, cabinets, veneer

Kingwood Botanical Name: Dalbergia cearensis Country of Origin: Brazil			French kings in centuries past reportedly favored this wood for their furniture; thus the name Very hard and heavy Polishes well Some people are allergic to the wood's dust, so proper precautions should be taken
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, fine furniture, inlay work

Leopardwood Botanical Name: Panopsis rubellens Country of Origin: Brazil			Figure features lace-like pattern Fairly course texture Moderately hard Works and finishes well
	Some Common Uses: Fine furniture, boxes, inlay work

Lignum Vitae (Argentine) Botanical Name: Bulnesia sarmientoi Country of Origin: Argentina			"Lignum Vitae" means "Tree of Life" in Latin; also called "Palo Santo" ("Saint Wood") in Argentina Very hard and dense wood Despite its density, cuts well due to the oils and resins it contains Polishes well
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, handles, drumsticks

Louro Preto Botanical Name: Nectandra mollis Country of Origin: Brazil			Features a contrasting, often wild, grain Sometimes used as a substitute for the more expensive Brazilian Rosewood Very hard wood Good finishing qualities
	Some Common Uses: Turnery, flooring, furniture, veneer

Page 2 (Woods M-Z)