African Blackwood
Description/Overview: African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is a rare and highly sought-after wood species native to Africa. Also known as Mpingo, Grenadilla, or African Ebony, it's known for its deep, rich color and fine, even texture. The wood is incredibly dense and hard, with a Janka hardness rating of 3,670 lbf, making it one of the hardest woods in the world. African Blackwood is prized for its durability, resistance to decay, and excellent acoustic properties, making it a popular choice for musical instruments such as clarinets and oboes.
In fine woodworking, African Blackwood is valued for its unique properties, including its ability to hold fine detail, resistance to warping, and its deep, rich color that darkens over time. Its fine, even texture makes it easy to work with and produces a smooth, polished finish. African Blackwood is the ideal wood for crafting contemporary, modern, and classic luxury humidors, providing the perfect blend of elegance and durability.
Origin: Africa
Names: (Dalbergia melanoxylon), Mpingo, Grenadilla, or African Ebony
Color: African Blackwood is prized not only for its unparalleled tonal qualities but also for its strikingly dark and luxurious color. Ranging from deep purplish-black to a rich, dark chocolate brown, the wood's unique coloring is due to its high concentration of natural oils that help protect it from decay and insects. Its deep, rich hue adds a touch of timeless sophistication to any woodworking project, making it a popular choice for fine musical instruments, luxury furniture, and high-end humidors.
Properties: African Blackwood is known for its exceptionally fine and uniform grain, which is often straight but can also have subtle waves and curves. The grain is typically tight and fine, giving the wood a smooth and even texture. This fine texture, combined with its dark color, makes African Blackwood a highly sought-after wood for fine woodworking such as humidors and musical instruments.
Additional Info: Fun facts about African Blackwood:
African Blackwood is one of the hardest woods in the world, making it incredibly durable and long-lasting.
The wood is so dense that it sinks in water.
African Blackwood is used to make clarinets and oboes due to its excellent acoustic properties.
The wood's deep, rich color darkens over time, becoming even more beautiful with age.
It's the preferred choice for fine woodworking, including high-end furniture and luxury humidors.
African Blackwood is also used for knife handles, billiard cues, and other fine instruments.
The wood is found in only a few regions of Africa, making it a rare and precious resource.
African Blackwood is a slow-growing tree that can take up to 100 years to reach maturity.
The wood is sometimes referred to as "the wood that sings" due to its beautiful tonal qualities.
African Blackwood has a long history of use in African traditional medicine, with various parts of the tree used to treat a variety of ailments.