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Cocobolo
| Botanical Name | Dalbergia retusa |
|---|---|
| Other Names | Coco, Cocobolo Rosewood |
| Main Color Group | Dark Brown |
| Grain Pattern | Pronounced |
| Workability | Challenging |
| Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT3 | 69 |
| Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 1095 |
| Janka Hardness - LBF | 2960 |
| Janka Hardness - Newtons | 14140 |
Cocobolo is a truly exotic wood that remains in high demand with fine furniture craftsmen and guitar luthiers, alike. It is renowned for its sometimes amazing array of colors and for being a very dense, stable, durable wood (making it well suited for both major industry applications). It is a true rosewood, with a density second only to African Blackwood.
The wood has been somewhat maligned, perhaps unfairly, due to what many claim to be the toxicity of its dust (due to this, many luthiers refuse to work with it). Our experience has shown that Cocobolo produces a huge, dense volume of dust, when being sanded. We find this dust to be no more “toxic” than any other true Dalbergia rosewood, with such affects being attributable more to the sheer mass of dust created than anything unusually threatening about the dust’s chemical makeup.
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Sustainability: This species is in CITES Appendix II, and is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as “Vulnerable,” due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations.
There has been a lot of heavy poaching going on throughout Central America — particularly in Mexico — and this wood is the most coveted in the entire region. Get this wood while you can, as its exportation will more than likely only become more restricted in the next year or two.
Common Uses: Fine furniture, musical instruments, turnings, and other small specialty objects.
Comments: Cocobolo Rosewood is a wood that many guitar luthiers continue to turn to, as the remaining remnants of Brazilian Rosewood in the US disappear. Examples from the western mountains of Costa Rica and, particularly, Nicaragua can boast some incredible colors — covering the entire spectrum. Mexican Cocobolo and the Nicaraguan “Black Coco” are the two preferred varieties with furniture craftsmen.
As previously mentioned, the wood does put off an unusally dense volume of dust when being sanded. Be sure to cover your eyes and wear a respirator when sanding, and blow out your shop or work area after working with it. (You might even want to wear a long-sleeved shirt.) Take these precautions and you shouldn’t experience any ill health-related issues.
Species Description: Wood Species
| Image | Price | Grade | Dimensions | SKU | Buy | Description | hf:att:pa_grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $87.24 | AB | 40 × 3.81 × 0.88 in | COCO1076 | | Checks on end. | ab |
 | $82.46 | A | 33.75 × 3.88 × 0.88 in | COCO1075 | | Light planer stripe. | a |
 | $122.86 | AB | 73 × 2.94 × 0.88 in | COCO1074 | | Checks on end. | ab |
 | $180.30 | A | 78.88 × 3.63 × 0.94 in | COCO1073 | | Small knot. Planer stripe. | a |
 | $121.94 | B | 61 × 3.88 × 0.88 in | COCO1072 | | Cracks. Nice warm contrast. | b |
 | $124.20 | B | 50.75 × 4.75 × 0.94 in | COCO1071 | | Checks. Light planer skip. | b |
 | $112.34 | AB | 37.38 × 5.25 × 0.88 in | COCO1070 | | Planerskip. Cracks. | ab |
 | $57.77 | C | 34.75 × 3.63 × 0.88 in | COCO1069 | | Cracks. | c |
 | $72.64 | A | 25.25 × 5.64 × 0.81 in | COCO1068 | | Alluring contrast. | a |
 | $38.76 | A | 13 × 5.38 × 0.88 in | COCO1067 | | Beautiful. | a |
 | $41.21 | A | 12.94 × 5.38 × 0.94 in | COCO1066 | | Eye-catching figure. | a |
 | $35.51 | A | 12.94 × 5.38 × 0.81 in | COCO1065 | | Striking color. | a |
 | $64.08 | A | 29.56 × 4.25 × 0.81 in | COCO1064 | | Clear two face. | a |
 | $59.85 | A | 27 × 4 × 0.88 in | COCO1063 | | Beautiful figure. | a |
 | $45.66 | A | 19 × 4.06 × 0.94 in | COCO1062 | | Nice board. | a |
 | $46.67 | A | 18 × 4.38 × 0.94 in | COCO1061 | | Beautiful color variation. | a |
 | $27.18 | A | 12 × 4.44 × 0.81 in | COCO1060 | | Small knot near end. | a |
 | $21.99 | A | 12.44 × 3.19 × 0.88 in | COCO1059 | | Small checks. | a |
 | $24.61 | A | 12.25 × 3.19 × 1 in | COCO1058 | | Clear two face. | a |
 | $21.65 | A | 12.5 × 2.75 × 1 in | COCO1057 | | Nice figure. | a |
 | $30.14 | A | 18.13 × 3 × 0.88 in | COCO1056 | | Spectacular Figure. | a |
 | $40.45 | A | 18.25 × 4 × 0.88 in | COCO1055 | | Clear two face. | a |
 | $32.19 | A | 18.13 × 3 × 0.94 in | COCO1054 | | Checks on end. | a |
 | $21.48 | AB | 18.13 × 3 × 0.69 in | COCO1053 | | Checks. | ab |
 | $80.29 | AB | 51 × 5.5 × 0.38 in | COCO1052 | | Width varies .25″ +/-. Small crack on end. | ab |
 | $70.70 | B | 48.75 × 5.63 × 0.38 in | COCO1051 | | Surface checks. Crack on end. | b |
 | $71.26 | B | 49.75 × 5.56 × 0.38 in | COCO1050 | | Planer skip crack. | b |
 | $80.29 | A | 51 × 5 × 0.31 in | COCO1049 | | Surface checks. | a |
 | $88.62 | A | 79.06 × 3.56 × 0.31 in | COCO1048 | | Small checks on end. | a |
 | $68.67 | B | 73.44 × 3.63 × 0.38 in | COCO1047 | | Cracks. | b |
 | $59.87 | B | 61 × 3.81 × 0.38 in | COCO1046 | | 7” crack on end. | b |
 | $63.76 | B | 66 × 3.75 × 0.31 in | COCO1045 | | Cracks. | b |
 | $36.11 | AAA | 18.125 × 2.9 × 0.687 in | COCO1040 | | Slight check on one edge. | aaa |
 | $37.09 | AAA | 18 × 3 × 0.687 in | COCO1039 | | Beautiful contrasting colors. | aaa |
 | $36.29 | AAA | 18.375 × 2.875 × 0.875 in | COCO1038 | | Clear two face. | aaa |
 | $35.29 | AAA | 17.125 × 3 × 0.9 in | COCO1044 | | Stunning figure! | aaa |
 | $31.13 | AB | 18.125 × 3 × 0.875 in | COCO1043 | | Knots on both faces. | ab |
 | $32.59 | A | 18 × 2.875 × 0.9 in | COCO1042 | | Beautiful grain figure. | a |
 | $34.24 | A | 18.125 × 3 × 0.9 in | COCO1041 | | Small knot on one face. | a |
 | $20.00 | A | 21 × 3 × 0.3 in | FINGERCOCO1001 | | Cocobolo Fingerboard May contain some sapwood 21.0″ x 3.0″ x 0.30″ (minimum) Manufactured with luthiers in mind, but excellent blanks for box-making and other smaller items Photographs are representative of what you will receive | a |
 | $200.98 | AAA | 66.875 × 4.375 × 0.875 in | COCO1037 | | Stunning figure. | aaa |
 | $162.46 | A | 43 × 6 × 0.937 in | COCO1034 | | Clear two face. | a |
 | $161.64 | AAA | 36.2 × 6.5 × 0.937 in | COCO1033 | | Beautiful color variation. | aaa |
 | $108.77 | AB | 38 × 5 × 0.875 in | COCO1032 | | Knots on both faces, crack on one end. | ab |
 | $30.00 – $53.00 | A | 24 × 2 × 2 in | TURNCOCO1001 | | Our Cocobolo turning squares come in range of sizes and are excellent quality lumber. The sizes are all rough-guides, but are basically accurate. If you have very strict size criteria, please just drop us an email to confirm they will meet your expectations. The photographs are representative of the stock you will receive. You won’t typically received surfaced blanks, but we surface a few on the photographs to give you an idea of what the lumber looks like.
| a |
 | $211.02 | A | 36 × 5.125 × 1.875 in | COCO1036 | | No Defects | a |
 | $319.62 | AB | 54 × 5.75 × 1.875 in | COCO1035 | | Beautifully figured | ab |
 | $99.39 | AB | 48.25 × 4 × 0.8 in | COCO1029 | | Several cracks. Planed to 3/4 inch | ab |
 | AB | 52 × 3.5 × 0.8 in | COCO1030 | | Cracks, especially on one face. Planed to 3/4 inch. | ab | |
 | $140.65 | A | 42.75 × 5.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1026 | | Good board. Planed to 3/4 inch | a |
 | $140.65 | A | 42.75 × 5.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1027 | | Good board. Planed to 3/4 inch | a |
 | AB | 48.25 × 5.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1028 | | Good board. Planed to 3/4 inch | ab | |
 | A | 37.25 × 4.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1023 | | Couple of cracks. One defect. Planed to 3/4 inch | a | |
 | $93.98 | AB | 36.5 × 5 × 0.8 in | COCO1024 | | Clear boards. Planed to 3/4 inch | ab |
 | $56.22 | A | 32.75 × 3 × 0.8 in | COCO1025 | | Small defect at each end on one face. Planed to 3/4 inch | a |
 | B | 72.5 × 3.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1019 | | One defect on each face – close to one end and close to one edge. Planed to 3/4 inch | b | |
 | $64.20 | B | 25.5 × 5.5 × 0.8 in | COCO1020 | | End checks, mainly on sap end. Planed to 3/4 inch | b |
 | $118.44 | A | 36 × 5.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1021 | | Good board. Planed to 3/4 inch | a |
 | B | 37.5 × 4.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1022 | | Large crack. Small end checks. Planed to 3/4 inch. | b | |
 | $81.17 | AB | 48.5 × 3.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1016 | | Good board. Planed to 3/4 inch | ab |
 | B | 51 × 6 × 0.8 in | COCO1017 | | Cracks at one end. Rest of board good. Planed to 3/4 inch | b | |
 | $125.31 | B | 54.75 × 5 × 0.8 in | COCO1018 | | End checks both ends. Planed to 3/4 inch | b |
 | $127.65 | B | 48.5 × 5.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1012 | | Small end checks. Small hole.Planed to 3/4 inch | b |
 | $77.41 | AB | 46.25 × 3.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1013 | | Defect at one end.Planed to 3/4 inch | ab |
 | $70.97 | AB | 36.75 × 3.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1014 | | End checks. Planed to 3/4 inch | ab |
 | A | 49.75 × 5.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1015 | | Small end checks. Large crack. Planed to 3/4 inch. | a | |
 | B | 49.5 × 5.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1008 | | Cracks both faces. Small end checks | b | |
 | B | 50.25 × 3.25 × 0.8 in | COCO1009 | | Sappy one face. One small knot. Small end checks | b | |
 | $74.20 | C | 39 × 4.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1010 | | Large knot. Small end checks both ends. Sappy | c |
 | $124.75 | AB | 51 × 4.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1011 | | Couple of cracks. One knot. Small end checks. | ab |
 | $100.93 | AB | 49 × 4 × 0.8 in | COCO1005 | | Very small end check one end | ab |
 | AB | 51 × 4.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1006 | | Checks at one end. Heart checks one face | ab | |
 | $130.03 | AB | 50.5 × 5 × 0.8 in | COCO1007 | | One check at each end. One small knot | ab |
 | $140.24 | B | 64.5 × 4.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1002 | | Several cracks, mostly at ends. One small knot. | b |
 | $100.42 | AB | 48.75 × 4 × 0.8 in | COCO1003 | | Few very minor defects | ab |
 | AB | 48.75 × 3.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1004 | | Defects (cracks) both faces. One end check | ab | |
 | $139.83 | A | 42.5 × 5.75 × 0.8 in | COCO1001 | | Clear board | a |
Although we don't have any listed pieces for this species available in our online store, add this species to your Quote Request and we'll get back to you with availability in our warehouse.