African Blackwood Billets
Dalbergia melanoxylon
The heartwood is purplish to brownish-black with dark gray streaks giving an overall impression of being black. Lustrous with an attractive inner chatoyance. Very hard, heavy, close-grained, and virtually free from pores. Its stability and lovely tonal qualities make it an excellent instrument wood.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
A has some swirly grain.
B has a 6" area at one end that isn't perfectly in plane with the rest of the board.
C looks to have fairly straight grain.
Item Number: W44256
Figured African Blackwood Turning Squares
Dalbergia melanoxylon
The heartwood is purplish to brownish-black with dark gray streaks giving an overall impression of being black. Lustrous with an attractive inner chatoyance. Very hard, heavy, close-grained, and virtually free from pores. Its stability and lovely tonal qualities make it an excellent instrument wood.
A is the nicest piece we've seen in 10 years. It has excellent swirly grain and many burl clusters.
B has a small 2" crack on one corner that doesn't extend toward the heart of the square. Swirly grain with burl clusters.
C has a strange figure. It looks almost like a cloud like figure, with kind of diamond shaped patterns.
D has swirly grain with small burly clusters.
E has swirly grain and small bird's-eyes. It looks like the grain is flowing around the small bird's-eyes as though they were stones in a stream.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44255
Figured African Blackwood Turning Squares
Dalbergia melanoxylon
The heartwood is purplish to brownish-black with dark gray streaks giving an overall impression of being black. Lustrous with an attractive inner chatoyance. Very hard, heavy, close-grained, and virtually free from pores. Its stability and lovely tonal qualities make it an excellent instrument wood.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
A has a few tiny bugholes and a small porous area. Cluster burls.
B has some light bird's-eye figure.
C has a small porous area and burly area.
D has a very unique figure. It looks like you can see the perpendicular face of a bird's-eye. Very strange and cool looking.
Item Number: W44254
Mexican Bocote Turning Squares
Cordia elaeagnoides
Bocote is an oily wood with a yellowish to dark brown color accented with irregular black stripes and streaks. It has a spicy smell and is hard, heavy and strong. It is easy to work and takes a very nice polish. This beautiful wood is seldom seen in woodworker's shops.
Item Number: W44253
Mexican Cocobolo Turning Squares
Dalbergia retusa
The wood is very oily which makes it difficult to glue but on the plus side the oiliness makes it easy to produce a fantastic polish on finished pieces. Wear a respirator mask when working Cocobolo as the dust can produce asthma-like reactions. Cocobolo is a small to medium sized tree and is found mainly in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44252
Mexican Cocobolo Turning Squares
Dalbergia retusa
The wood is very oily which makes it difficult to glue but on the plus side the oiliness makes it easy to produce a fantastic polish on finished pieces. Wear a respirator mask when working Cocobolo as the dust can produce asthma-like reactions. Cocobolo is a small to medium sized tree and is found mainly in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
D has a small void on one face.
Item Number: W44251
Mexican Cocobolo Turning Squares
Dalbergia retusa
The wood is very oily which makes it difficult to glue but on the plus side the oiliness makes it easy to produce a fantastic polish on finished pieces. Wear a respirator mask when working Cocobolo as the dust can produce asthma-like reactions. Cocobolo is a small to medium sized tree and is found mainly in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44250
Camphor Burl Turning Squares
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44249
Curly European Sycamore Turning Squares
Acer pseudoplatanus
This European Maple is native to central Europe and west Asia. It is a tough, white or cream colored, fine-grained timber. It reminds me of vanilla ice cream because it is so even-colored. It works well in any grain direction. It is used for musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and because it is non-staining it is used for kitchen utensils, wooden spoons, rolling pins, and cutting boards. The figure is fiddleback on the quartersawn surface and more of a broken curl on the flatsawn surface. Select, quartersawn material is used for violin backs and sides and necks. Dry.
Item Number: W44248
Curly European Sycamore Turning Squares
Acer pseudoplatanus
This European Maple is native to central Europe and west Asia. It is a tough, white or cream colored, fine-grained timber. It reminds me of vanilla ice cream because it is so even-colored. It works well in any grain direction. It is used for musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and because it is non-staining it is used for kitchen utensils, wooden spoons, rolling pins, and cutting boards. The figure is fiddleback on the quartersawn surface and more of a broken curl on the flatsawn surface. Select, quartersawn material is used for violin backs and sides and necks. Dry.
Item Number: W44247
Curly European Sycamore Turning Squares
Acer pseudoplatanus
This European Maple is native to central Europe and west Asia. It is a tough, white or cream colored, fine-grained timber. It reminds me of vanilla ice cream because it is so even-colored. It works well in any grain direction. It is used for musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and because it is non-staining it is used for kitchen utensils, wooden spoons, rolling pins, and cutting boards. The figure is fiddleback on the quartersawn surface and more of a broken curl on the flatsawn surface. Select, quartersawn material is used for violin backs and sides and necks. Dry.
Item Number: W44246
Curly European Sycamore Turning Squares
Acer pseudoplatanus
This European Maple is native to central Europe and west Asia. It is a tough, white or cream colored, fine-grained timber. It reminds me of vanilla ice cream because it is so even-colored. It works well in any grain direction. It is used for musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, and because it is non-staining it is used for kitchen utensils, wooden spoons, rolling pins, and cutting boards. The figure is fiddleback on the quartersawn surface and more of a broken curl on the flatsawn surface. Select, quartersawn material is used for violin backs and sides and necks. Dry.
Item Number: W44245
Camphor Burl Turning Squares
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44244
Camphor Burl Turning Squares
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44243
Camphor Burl
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44242
Camphor Burl Turning Squares
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44241
Camphor Burl Bowl Blanks
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44240
Camphor Burl Bowl Blanks
Cinnamomum sp.
This rare burl is from S.E. Asia and is seldom seen on the world market. It is fine-grained and varies in color from a light reddish-brown to almost scarlet. It is easy to work and has a very pungent, spicy scent. For a burl it is remarkably stable. Green to partially air dried.
Item Number: W44239
Mexican Bocote Turning Squares
Cordia elaeagnoides
Bocote is an oily wood with a yellowish to dark brown color accented with irregular black stripes and streaks. It has a spicy smell and is hard, heavy and strong. It is easy to work and takes a very nice polish. This beautiful wood is seldom seen in woodworker's shops.
Item Number: W44238
Bois de Rosewood Turning Squares
Dalbergia maritima
Bois de Rose is a true rosewood from Madagascar and is little known on the world timber market. It is a deep burgundy color, sometimes with darker striping and darkens on exposure. It is hard and heavy and takes a high, glassy- smooth polish. This wood has a tap tone more like old Brazilian Rosewood than any other species we have cut. Bois de Rose is one of the rarest in the rosewood family. We have a very limited stock of this beautiful wood and when it is gone we will not be able to replace it. Air dried.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44237
Bois de Rosewood Turning Squares
Dalbergia maritima
Bois de Rose is a true rosewood from Madagascar and is little known on the world timber market. It is a deep burgundy color, sometimes with darker striping and darkens on exposure. It is hard and heavy and takes a high, glassy- smooth polish. This wood has a tap tone more like old Brazilian Rosewood than any other species we have cut. Bois de Rose is one of the rarest in the rosewood family. We have a very limited stock of this beautiful wood and when it is gone we will not be able to replace it. Air dried.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44236
Lignum Viitae Turning Squares
Guaiacum sanctum
One of the world's densest and oiliest woods. The green to greenish-brown heartwood weighs between 80 to 90 lbs/cubic foot. Long used for its self-lubricating qualities in marine applications such as propeller shaft and rudder shaft bearings, it is also thought to have medicinal and healing properties. Its oily nature makes it difficult to glue but makes it a fantastic turning wood.
Any Lignum Vitae on our site is genuine Lignum, not Verawood. We also have Verawood in stock and will be labeled as such on the website.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
A & B are mostly sapwood. They do make great turned tool handles.
Item Number: W44235
Bird's-eye Maple Turning Squares
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Figured somewhat like that of burl with many small eyes separate from each other. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: W44234
Bird's-eye Maple Turning Squares
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Figured somewhat like that of burl with many small eyes separate from each other. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: W44233
Bird's-eye Maple Turning Squares
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Figured somewhat like that of burl with many small eyes separate from each other. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: W44232
European Pearwood
Pyrus communis
Almost all Pearwood imported into the U.S.A. has been steamed to bring out a more pinkish-red color and to prevent drying stresses. Formerly the wood was used for carving, turning, drawing instruments, wood engravings, textile printing blocks, and tool handles. Stained black it is an excellent substitute for Ebony. Contemporary uses include woodwinds such as recorders, furniture, kitchen accessories, jewelry and other boxes, and architectural uses such as paneling and doors.
Item Number: W44231
European Pearwood Blocks
Pyrus communis
Almost all Pearwood imported into the U.S.A. has been steamed to bring out a more pinkish-red color and to prevent drying stresses. Formerly the wood was used for carving, turning, drawing instruments, wood engravings, textile printing blocks, and tool handles. Stained black it is an excellent substitute for Ebony. Contemporary uses include woodwinds such as recorders, furniture, kitchen accessories, jewelry and other boxes, and architectural uses such as paneling and doors.
Item Number: W44230
Wild Olivewood Blocks & Cane Blank
Olea macrocarpa
A species of Olive from South Africa. Very rarely seen on the commercial timber market. It is similar in color to the European species but is denser and harder with more variegations of color and grain. Partially air-dried.
Item Number: W44229
Camatillo Turning Squares
Dalbergia congestiflora
Also called Para Kingwood & Mexican Kingwood. The deep purple heartwood is oily and takes an incredible polish with a smoothness pleasing to the fingertips.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44228
Malagasy Ebony
Diospyros perreiri
This Ebony is unsurpassed for its beauty and blackness. It is fairly fine-textured and takes a high polish. Finest ebony in the world. Rare.
This species is on the CITES list and as a consequence, we are limiting sales to the United States only.
C has some color.
Item Number: W44227
German Lime Carving Blocks
Tilia platyphyllos
Also called European Basswood, this species grows throughout Europe. It was the favorite wood of the English carver Grinling Gibbons and the German Gothic sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider. Pale in color, it has a straight grain and fine, even texture. It is easy to work and can easily be carved with, against, and cross the grain. It is recognized as one of the classic carving woods. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44224
Mexican Cocobolo Turning Squares
Dalbergia retusa
The wood is very oily which makes it difficult to glue but on the plus side the oiliness makes it easy to produce a fantastic polish on finished pieces. Wear a respirator mask when working Cocobolo as the dust can produce asthma-like reactions. Cocobolo is a small to medium sized tree and is found mainly in Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
B is quartersawn.
Item Number: W44223
Lebanese Cedar
Cedrus libani
This is one of the true Cedars. There are more than 50 references to Lebanese Cedar in the Bible. Psalms 92:12-"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a Cedar of Lebanon". Because of its durability the Egyptians used it for making mummy cases. Carvings of Cedar have been unearthed in ancient tombs still in excellent condition. These boards are from a tree grown as an ornamental in England. The wood has a crisp texture and a lovely, aromatic scent that is very long lasting.
Item Number: W44222
Figured Bubinga
Guibourtia tessmannii
Called by some woodworkers African Rosewood, Bubinga is a deep, lustrous, brownish-red color with a fine, darker striping. The figure makes the wood doubly beautiful. It is very hard and heavy and takes a glassy, smooth finish.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44221
Figured Bubinga
Guibourtia tessmannii
Called by some woodworkers African Rosewood, Bubinga is a deep, lustrous, brownish-red color with a fine, darker striping. The figure makes the wood doubly beautiful. It is very hard and heavy and takes a glassy, smooth finish.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44220
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Holly is the whitest wood commercially available. Our stock was cut during the winter and quickly dried in a vacuum kiln to prevent discoloration. The result is very white wood without gray or bluish staining. The wood is fine-grained and is excellent for turnery, inlays, musical instrument edge bandings, etc. The grade is common and better which means that there can be some defects, mainly knots.
Item Number: W44219
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Holly is the whitest wood commercially available. Our stock was cut during the winter and quickly dried in a vacuum kiln to prevent discoloration. The result is very white wood without gray or bluish staining. The wood is fine-grained and is excellent for turnery, inlays, musical instrument edge bandings, etc. The grade is common and better which means that there can be some defects, mainly knots.
Item Number: W44218
Castello Boxwood
Calycophyllum multiflorum
Castello Boxwood, though not a true Buxus species, still has a very fine texture and a lovely light canary yellow color. This is truly a dream wood to mill.It is an excellent turnery wood, capable of very fine detail. Also very popular for making scale timbers and other parts for model ships. Air-dried.
C & D are figured.
Item Number: W44215
Ziricote Cane Blanks
Cordia dodecandra
Ziricote is another timber we get from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It is a lovely wood with a very pronounced ray fleck on radial surfaces sometimes producing a "landscape" effect much like picture jasper.
Item Number: W44207
Black Mesquite Cane Blanks
Prosopis nigra
A very few pieces of Mesquite are figured with what we call frog's-hair curl, a small, tight curl with as many as 12-15 curls per inch. A very stable wood. Air-dried.
B has some bugholes across one corner.
Item Number: W44206
Lightly Figured Purpleheart Cane Blanks
Peltogyne sp.
The best colored & figured Purpleheart comes from Bolivia. It is also finer-grained than other Purpleheart species found elsewhere. Air-dried.
Item Number: W44205
Zebrawood Cane Blanks
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
This striped wood develops a beautiful golden patina as it ages.
Item Number: W44204
Zebrawood Cane Blanks
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
This striped wood develops a beautiful golden patina as it ages.
Item Number: W44203
African Blackwood Billets
Dalbergia melanoxylon
The heartwood is purplish to brownish-black with dark gray streaks giving an overall impression of being black. Lustrous with an attractive inner chatoyance. Very hard, heavy, close-grained, and virtually free from pores. Its stability and lovely tonal qualities make it an excellent instrument wood.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
These African Blackwood billets are cut from logs in Africa in 2023. To prevent cracking while in transit to the US, they were completely dipped in hot paraffin wax before being palletized and shipped.
Since they cannot season fully encased in wax, we remove the wax and apply several coats of clear shellac. This seals the wood and protects it from spikes in temperature or drops in humidity but has some porosity which allows the wood to dry and season. We recommend you keep it wrapped in the shrink wrap we applied before shipping. It is best stored in a cool climate (65-70° F) and with relative humidity around 35%.
When you are milling this wood, keep watch and if it starts developing small air checks, put a coat of shellac or paste wax on it. These large, mostly clear boards are incredibly rare in African Blackwood so please take pains to prevent degradation.
A is straight grained on both faces and quite a nice billet.
Item Number: W44201
Bird's-eye Maple
Acer saccharum
The heartwood is white or cream to light brown or reddish brown. Figured somewhat like that of burl with many small eyes separate from each other. Hard and heavy, 45 lbs/cu ft. Easy to work and takes a smooth polish. U.S.A.
Item Number: W44199
Curly White Oak
Quercus alba
This Oak is from the Eastern U.S.A. We have units of this beautiful curly Oak in 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 thicknesses and mostly quartersawn. Please inquire for quantity pricing.
Item Number: W44198
Curly White Oak
Quercus alba
This Oak is from the Eastern U.S.A. We have units of this beautiful curly Oak in 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 thicknesses and mostly quartersawn. Please inquire for quantity pricing.
Item Number: W44197
Brazilian Satinwood/Yellowheart
Euxylophora paraensis
Also called Pau Amarello and Yellowheart, the heartwood is a bright yellow color deepening slightly with age. Fairly hard and heavy, easy to work, and capable of taking a high polish.
Item Number: W44196
West African Ebony
Diospyros crassiflora
Sometimes called Gabon or Gaboon, this Ebony is sometimes jet black but oftentimes has grayish streaks that mostly disappear when finished or after the made object has been put into service. This Ebony has a marked resistance to checking that is characteristic of some of the Indian and Asian species. It has a wonderful texture and is easily carved, planed, turned, and milled. It is fairly fine-grained and takes a high polish. This Ebony usually originates in either Cameroon or Nigeria and the logs are rough hewn in the forest and oftentimes brought to the nearest road by human porters. With the disappearance of other species of black Ebony this species is fast becoming the Ebony of choice.
Item Number: W44195
Figured Bubinga
Guibourtia tessmannii
Called by some woodworkers African Rosewood, Bubinga is a deep, lustrous, brownish-red color with a fine, darker striping. The figure makes the wood doubly beautiful. It is very hard and heavy and takes a glassy, smooth finish.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W44194