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| Wood Information |
| Pen #56 and #62 |
| African Blackwood: Common Names: African blackwood, African ebony, African grenadilo, Banbanus, Ebene, Grenadilla, Grenadille d'Afrique, Mpingo, Mufunjo, Mugembe, Mukelete, Pau preto, Poyi, Zebra wood Product Sources: Some material from this species is reported to be available from sustainably managed or other environmentally responsible sources. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) reports that timber from this species is produced in limited volumes and is exported in small sized cants. The timber is reported to be exported in log form from East African ports. Log lengths are usually from 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) and are often sold by importers only in log form and by the pound. Price range is reported to be in the expensive range. Tree Data : The small tree is reported to often develop more than a single stem. It usually grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m), but may occasionally reach 50 feet (15 m). The bole is often short, fluted, and rarely cylindrical, with diameters that are seldom more than 12 inches (30 cm). Trees are reported to have distinctive spines. Wood Color and Grain: The narrow sapwood is usually yellow-white in color, and is clearly distinct from the heartwood. The heartwood has an almost black appearance. It is dark-purple brown in color, with predominant black streaks. The grain is variable but it is reported to be usually straight. The wood is described as extremely fine and even-textured. The wood is reported to polish to a brilliantly lustrous surface. Ease of Drying: The wood is reported to require extremely slow drying rates, and could take 2 to 3 years to season. African blackwood is reported to be very stable after seasoning, and shows only small movement in use. Natural Durability: The heartwood is reported to be very resistant to decay Blunting Effect: The wood has severe blunting effect on cutting tools. Comments: African blackwood is reported to be superior to Ebony for the manufacture of woodwind instruments because of its oily nature and high tolerance to fluctuations in climatic conditions. It is reported to respond almost as well as metals to tapping for screw threads. |
Pen #94
Pen #75.
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Harding Pens and Woodturnings