Balsa
Ochroma lagopus
This is one of the lightest density commercial wood at 8-12 lbs per cubic foot. Most Balsa comes from Ecuador and at the age of 6 years may be 50-60 feet high with a diameter of 24-30 inches. It is usually harvested at around 7 years of age. Used for novelties, model airplanes, floats, surfboards, break-away furniture and interior filler for certain electric guitars. And remember that Thor Heyerdahl's raft Kon-Tiki was made from Balsa logs and carried him 5000 miles from South American to the Tuamotu Islands.
These will be a bit expensive to ship at these lengths. If you would like an estimate on shipping or for the pieces to be cut down before shipping, add a note at checkout or give us a call.
Item Number: W38442
Genuine Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W38441
West African Ebony Bundle & Boards
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.
A & B both have 4 pieces each.
Item Number: W38439
Figured Ceylon Satinwood
Chloroxylon swietenia
This wood is primarily from Sri Lanka and has been a valuable wood of commerce for several centuries. The wood has a look that begs it to be touched. When finely polished and finished Satinwood has a smooth, silky feel with a lustrous depth.
Item Number: W38438
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: W38434
Ribbon Striped Sapele Turning Square & Bowl Blanks
Entandrophragma cylindricum
The Sapele tree is found in tropical West & Central Africa. Even when without figure as this board Sapele has an amazing luster and takes a beautiful polish.
Item Number: W38433
Brazilian Bloodwood
Brosimum paraense
Also called Satine, Cacique, and Cardinalwood. The heartwood is a rich strawberry red, in sharp contrast to the light colored sapwood. Takes a high, lustrous finish. Kiln-dried.
Item Number: W38432
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: W38431
West African Ebony Cane Blanks
Diospyros sp.
Originating in S.E. Asia, especially Indonesia, this Ebony is sometimes called Malaysian Blackwood. The heartwood is dark, sometimes with black stripes or streaking and oftentimes with a greenish cast in sharp contrast to the white to straw colored sapwood. We import this in large cants up to 8 x 14" with lengths to 10 feet. The wood is hard and heavy and is capable of a fine, high polish. Excellent for turnery and precious woodworks such as musical instruments, boxes, jewelry, etc.
Item Number: W38430
Macassar Ebony
Diospyros celebica
A classically striped Ebony from Asia. Quartersawn.
Item Number: W38429
African Blackwood Turning Squares Bundle
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.
16 pieces per bundle.
Item Number: OS90
African Blackwood Bowl Blanks
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.
Item Number: W38427
African Blackwood Bowl Blanks
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.
Item Number: W38426
Thuya Burl Turning Squares
Tetraclinis articulata
This comes from the Atlas mountains in Morocco and has a beautiful golden chatoyance. Its color varies from a rich, lustrous golden brown to nearly black. Thuya burl is hard and dense with a high oil content, but tends to be brittle. The eyes, perfectly round, are scattered about in some burls like the figure in bird's-eye maple; in others they are grouped as islands. Due to it's desert occurrence, the wood sometimes contains small defects or inclusions but most can be repaired with cyanoacrylate (super) glues. A rare species, this exquisite wood is used for inlays, small boxes, turnery, and precious objects.
Item Number: W38424
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: W38423
Pernambuco Turning Squares
Guilandina echinata
Also called Ibirapitanga and Pau Brazil, this once important dyewood gave origin to the name of Brazil. It is now facing extinction over most of its growth area and is listed by CITES as endangered. The color of the heartwood is yellowish-brown to orange and is fine-grained, hard, and heavy. Rare.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
E and H have a flamed figure.
Item Number: W38418
Figured Mediterranean Olivewood Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Olea europa
A wood of biblical importance, no wood is more closely associated with history and the development of civilization than Olivewood. A beautifully variegated timber. Partially air-dried.
Item Number: W38417
Lightly Figured Mediterranean Olivewood Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Olea europa
A wood of biblical importance, no wood is more closely associated with history and the development of civilization than Olivewood. A beautifully variegated timber. Partially air-dried.
Item Number: W38416
West African Ebony Cane Blanks
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: W38414
West African Ebony Cane Blanks
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: W38413
Purpleheart
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: W38412
Figured Ceylon Satinwood Cane Blanks
Chloroxylon swietenia
This wood is primarily from Sri Lanka and has been a valuable wood of commerce for several centuries. The wood has a look that begs it to be touched. When finely polished and finished Satinwood has a smooth, silky feel with a lustrous depth.
Item Number: W38411
Zebrawood
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
This striped wood develops a beautiful golden patina as it ages.
Item Number: W38410
Pernambuco Turning Squares
Guilandina echinata
Also called Ibirapitanga and Pau Brazil, this once important dyewood gave origin to the name of Brazil. It is now facing extinction over most of its growth area and is listed by CITES as endangered. The color of the heartwood is yellowish-brown to orange and is fine-grained, hard, and heavy. Rare.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
These are rough as we didn't want to reduce their size any further by surfacing them. They are quite nice squares with no defects though and very rare.
Item Number: W38409
West African Ebony Pen Blank Bundles
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.
A has 6 pieces.
B has 14 pieces.
Item Number: W38408
West African Ebony Turning Squares
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: W38407
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: W38406
Ziricote Bundle & Turning Squares
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.
Partially air dried.
A as 4 pieces.
Item Number: W38403
Ziricote
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.
Partially air dried.
Item Number: W38402
Figured Shedua
Guibourtia sp.
Also called Ovangkol and Amazakoue. This wood is increasingly becoming popular as an acoustic guitar wood. The color varies from a rich, golden brown to a lustrous grayish brown usually with a black stripe.
Item Number: W38399
Figured Tasmanian Blackwood
Acacia melanoxylon
The heartwood of Tasmanian Blackwood is a golden-brown to reddish-brown color, oftentimes with darker streaks. It is extremely lustrous and takes a beautiful, smooth finish. It is a very close match to Koa and the type of figuring and tonal qualities is similar.
Item Number: W38398
Brazilian Bloodwood Turning Squares
Brosimum paraense
Also called Satine, Cacique, and Cardinalwood. The heartwood is a rich strawberry red, in sharp contrast to the light colored sapwood. Takes a high, lustrous finish. Kiln-dried.
Item Number: W38397
Lightly 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.
Item Number: W38396
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.
These squares all have either burly sections or birds-eye's.
Item Number: W38395
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.
These squares all have either burly sections or birds-eye's.
Item Number: W38394
Figured African Blackwood Turning Squares/Knife Handle Blanks
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 squares all have either burly sections or birds-eye's. Very nice.
Item Number: W38393
Snakewood Half Logs
Piratinera guianensis
Also called Letterwood and Leopardwood. Color: dark red to reddish brown with irregular black speckles or stripes. Fine textured and highly lustrous. Very hard and heavy, 75-84 lbs/cu ft. Takes a beautiful finish. Very rare and very expensive. Guyana and Surinam.
Contains defects common to Snakewood, i.e., wane, possible heart checks, etc. but there is still a lot of clear wood.
Item Number: W38392
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: W38391
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: W38389
Granadillo Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Platymiscium pinnatum
This beautiful hardwood is oftentimes sold as a substitute for Cocobolo. It is a species of Platymiscium and as such is in the same family as the Rosewoods. It is hard and heavy, stable in service, and takes a gorgeous polish.
These squares have a light figure.
Item Number: W38387
Guatemalan Rosewood Turning Squares/Pool Cue Blanks
Dalbergia tucarensis
This Rosewood species has a reddish-brown to dark brown colored heartwood contrasting the almost white sapwood. The dust has a sweet odor. It is an excellent furniture/case works/jewelry box wood and even though it has a medium texture it does take a nice polish. We also offer it as a musical instrument wood (see guitar fingerboards and backs & sides elsewhere on the site). It has a very "crisp" tap tone with good sustain.
Due to CITES regulations, we can only ship this species to customers in the United States.
Item Number: W38385
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: W38384
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: W38383
Cocobolo Thins
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: W38380
Thuya Burl Knife Handle Blanks
Tetraclinis articulata
This comes from the Atlas mountains in Morocco and has a beautiful golden chatoyance. Its color varies from a rich, lustrous golden brown to nearly black. Thuya burl is hard and dense with a high oil content, but tends to be brittle. The eyes, perfectly round, are scattered about in some burls like the figure in bird's-eye maple; in others they are grouped as islands. Due to it's desert occurrence, the wood sometimes contains small defects or inclusions but most can be repaired with cyanoacrylate (super) glues. A rare species, this exquisite wood is used for inlays, small boxes, turnery, and precious objects.
Item Number: W38379
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: W38377
Curly Black Mesquite Knife Handle 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.
Item Number: W38375
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: W38376
Curly Black Mesquite Knife Handle 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.
Item Number: W38374