Dalbergia melanoxylon. Air dried.
All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

A dense, lustrous timber varying from dull brown to black with cream sapwood. Often mis-named as an ebony, it turns superbly and polishes up to a high shine and is firm enough for thread cutting. Also available as pen blanks.

African Blackwood is now CITES listed. Read more in https://cites.org
We have chain of custody documentation to show the African Blackwood we currently offer for sale pre-dates...

Guibourtia conjugata. Air and kiln dried.

Also known as Black Chacate, or False Mopane, this timber varies from streaks of dark brown to black heartwood with lighter, honey brown streaks.
It has a fine texture and interlocking grain and is a hardish timber which cuts to a good finish and will polish to a high shine with a deep lustre.
One of the best timbers to come out of Mozambique and it is also excellent for boxes.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

Vachellia erioloba.  Air and kiln dried. All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

Also known as Giraffe Thorn due to the way they (carefully) eat the seed pods from this tree.

The timber is reddish brown with a very fine, dense texture. It looks something like a dark Iroko if you know this timber, but is better for for turning and fine detail. Ideal for boxes and spindle work.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

Brachystegia spiciformis. Air and kiln dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

A hard timber used for turnery, furniture, flooring and even railway sleepers. The heartwood is a uniform reddish/brown with fine grey to black streaks in places.

Turns well with a dryish feel to the texture (a bit like Iroko if you have ever turned it) and will take oils and sealers well.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

 

 

Inhambanella henriquesii. Air and Kiln Dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (square x thickness).

This timber is neither milky or pear-like but a deep reddish brown with fine, tight grain lines which vary from dark brown to reddish and straw colour. It looks a bit like a rosewood.

The timber is hard and slightly brittle to turn and requires careful sanding through the grades. Being hard and tight, the spindles will be ideal for boxes, especially combined with an ebony finial. It...

Colophospermum mopane. Part Seasoned.
All dimensions shown are in inches  (length x square).

A yellow to reddish brown timber with fine, darker streaks throughout, Mopane is used widely for musical instruments.

Less dense than many exotics, the timber will turn well to a crisp finish and high shine.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

 

 

Pterocarpus angolensis. Air and Kiln Dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (square x thickness).

Also known as Kiatt or Umbilo, this is a timber popular in South Africa for furniture making and turning.

It is the softest of the African timbers we sell. With strong grain lines similar to olive but lighter in colour, this timber has waxy texture that cuts to a shine, especially on spindle work. Bowls require fine cuts across the end grain (what bowls don’t?) for the best finish.

Have...

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Cassia abbreviata. Air and kiln dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

A very hard timber used for furniture, turning and carving. The heartwood is a dark to pinky red or light brown with darker streaks and speckles. Turns and sands to a good finish and will accept oils or sealers.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

 

Spirostachys africana. Air and Kiln Dried.
All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

Also known as African Sandalwood, this timber will scent your workshop for ages with a sweet and persistent aroma.

Looks similar to Bocote - dark brown or black streaks running through coffee coloured timber but is more dense. Some blanks will contain patches of pale sapwood. Turns and carves well.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

Newtonia Hilderbrandttii.  Air and kiln dried. All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

This reddish brown timber is dense and hard, with alternate dark and light lines and dark, fine specs in the medullary rays. A very pretty timber. It turns well and to a good finish straight off the tool and might even take a fine thead but I haven’t tried that yet. Haven’t tried it with oils either but with cellulose sanding sealer and wax it comes up to a fine gloss. Perfect for boxes too.

Read...

Cordyla africana. Air and kiln dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

A stunning deep cream coloured wood with golden undertones that creates its own ambience. The heartwood has a colour yellow brown to nut brown with a subtle but attractive grain pattern.

It is used for furniture, flooring, turning and carving and often used for the making of African drums. Works to a great finish.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

 

Guibourtia coleosperma  Air dried.
Not a true Rosewood (Dalbegia) but a member of the Bubinga family (but not CITES Listed) and just maybe, the most beautitiful timber we have.

The colour varies from reddish brown to pink with lighter streaks, some yellow to pale straw colour. Some blanks are reminiscent of Brazilian Tulip.
It turns just like Bubinga, slightly hard but crisp and takes abrasives well.
I have only tried this with sanding sealer and wax and it shines like a fresh conker.

My...

Millettia stuhlmannii. Air and kiln dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

Looks like Wenge, turns like Wenge albiet a little harder but is not Wenge! With its dark colours and rich parenchyma bands, Panga

Panga brings a touch of the exotic to finished pieces. The heartwood is dark chocolate brown with paler broad bands. Turns hard and to a fantastic finish.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

 

 

Combretum imberbe. Air and kiln dried.
All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

This timber is the hardest wood in our catalogue, so hard that Africans used it to make blades for their hoes before metal became available.

So a timber for sharp tools (are any not?) which will turn and sand to a lustrous finish and accept all finishing products but does not absorb oils too well.The heartwood is dark brown in colour with blackish streaks.

Read our safety notice on timber...

Afzelia quanzensis. Air and kiln dried.
All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

The light red-brown timber with good figure. oxidises to a warm darker colour shortly after conversion, age improves appearance.

An easy timber to turn, works well and takes a fine finish with oil or sealers. This timber is also used for furniture, parquet, panelling and to make dug-out canoes in Africa.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

 

Xylia torreana. Air and kiln dried.

All dimensions shown are in inches (square x thickness).

Used for turning and carving, the heartwood of Xylia is dark red with darker purple brown streaks and lighter, curly parenchyma bands (rays). Extremely hard and durable.

The wild grain variations will make some interesting turnings.

Turns and sands to a good finish.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies

Berchemia discolor. Air and Kiln Dried.
All dimensions shown are in inches (length x square).

The wood is a red brown which is faintly pink tinged, occasionally with a blackish streak.

It is a hardish timber with an even texture that is is medium to fine. It turns well and takes all finishing products well.

Read our safety notice on timber allergies