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Ababa
Ababa1 Medium

Ababa is a lesser-known West African hardwood prized for its durability and warm, earthy tones. With a medium to coarse texture and interlocked grain, it machines well and finishes beautifully, making it suitable for furniture, cabinetry, and interior joinery. Naturally resistant to decay and insects, Ababa is also valued in select outdoor applications. Its combination of strength, workability, and understated elegance makes it an appealing alternative to more commonly used tropical species.

boxmaking, cabinetry, fine furniture, furniture
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Afrormosia
Afrormosia Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Native to West Africa, Afrormosia is a handsome, rot and bug resistant, extremely durable wood has been used as a substitute for Teak (Tectona grandis), thus earning its nickname, "African Teak". While having a similar look, it also has working and mechanical properties that mimic Teak, whilst having none of its oiliness. (Afrormosia has a well-established track record for holding up in the most extreme conditions, proving the comparisons well justified.) Its heartwood color can be a muted tan, muted gold or any of a series of light- to medium-colored browns (from very muted to slightly, in hue), highlight by darker stripes, of varying degrees and coloration, which can run the length of its typically straight or wavy (though sometimes interlocked). Despite its similar "fuzzy" appearance (to that of Teak), it is fine grained, presenting a superb natural luster when sanded. Over time, the wood will darken, rendering an appearance often more like that of Black Walnut than of Teak. Despite being considerably harder than Teak, Afrormosia is generally very workable, offering crisp joints and it turns, glues and finishes very well.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, turnings, veneer
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Andiroba
Andiroba Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Andiroba is used as both a Mahogany substitute and a general utility carpentry wood throughout its indigenous regions that are scattered across Central & South America. It is widely used for furniture and flooring in it's native geographical areas. Andiroba is generally easy to work, and the species turns, glues and finishes well. This pale reddish-brown colored lumber is a durable wood -- similar to Honduran Mahogany, in that regard. Aesthetically, its typically more on the bland side (compared to a Mahogany), although more desirable examples of the species can be quite highly-figured.Grains are typically straight, although they can be wavy or interlocked, and the wood is fine textured and has a good natural luster.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, turnings, veneer
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Avodire
Avodire Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Avodire is native to West Africa and is sometimes utilized as a Mahogany substitute (which is appropriate, since both are in the Meliaceae family), with similar aesthetics and cooperative working properties. Typical colors range from a pale yellow to cream, and a variety of figured grain patterns are commonly found including wavy, mottled and ripple, typically accompanied by dramatic levels of chatoyance - which makes it very popular with veneer manufacturers. It's sapwood can be difficult to differentiate from the heartwood. While its grain patterns can be straight, wavy, irregular or interlocked, its texture is fine and it has an impressive natural luster which has led to it being called African Satinwood. 
cabinetry, furniture, veneer
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Beech - American
Beech - American Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Both American Beech and its European counterpart are known for their pale cream coloration, which is often augmented by a pink or light- to medium-colored muted reddish-brown hue. Its medium texture and typically straight grains and sometimes wavy, give it excellent working properties. American Beech cuts, turns, glues and finishes very well and has a moderate natural luster.Flat-sawn pieces usually have very plain-looking aesthetics; the bulk of which is used for utility purposes. Conversely, quartersawn pieces typically exhibit a silvery fleck pattern -- which lends the wood well to furniture and musical instrument applications, with more exquisite examples often finding their way to veneer mills.
flooring, furniture, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Beech - European
Beech - European Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Like American Beech, this wood features pale cream coloration, also often augmented by a pink or muted light reddish-brown hue. It's large supply across the continent and typically modest price range makes it one of the most popular and commercially important hardwoods in Europe. Its straight grains and medium texture give comparable working and steam-bending properties to its American first cousin and it machines, turns, glues and finishes with ease.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, musical Instruments, turnings, veneer
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Berlinia
Berlinia Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Known in the US, primarily as either "Ebiara" or, its nickname, "Red Zebrawood," Berlinia's heartwood can range anywhere from a pale yellow to a (more typical) muted reddish-brown. Darker colored stripes in patterns (which can be symmetrical or irregular) are how the comparisons to Zebrano are drawn, although they are related: each of their respective genera are part of the Detarieae tribe, in the subfamily, Caesalpinioideae.Grains are general straight or interlocked. Although its texture is medium to coarse, it has a high degree of natural luster and can display figure and chatoyance. It works well -- cutting, turning, gluing and finishing smoothly -- although tear-out with interlocked grains is not uncommon.
cabinetry, furniture, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Birch - Yellow
birch yellow

Heartwood can vary from pale yellow to a light, muted reddish brown; sapwood is grayish-white. There are many species of Birch, worldwide; it is one of the most popular woods, ironically, for both veneer and utility applications. Figured pieces are the more desirable for veneer, with wide, dramatic curly figuring (similar to Cherry) decorating the surface.

American Birch works easily -- it turns, glues and finishes well -- although most boards have very little natural luster. It's a versatile wood that can be used for a number of different applications, but it needs to be protected, as the wood will decay when exposed to the elements. (... and if left unprotected will rot.)

boxmaking, cabinetry, crafting, flooring, furniture
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Blackwood - Acacia
Blackwood - Acacia Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
A close cousin to Hawaii's coveted Koa, Australian Blackwood is growing in popularity as it becomes more known in both guitar and furniture-building circles. Its name is misleading, as there are no black hues ever seen in its grains. Highly-figured lumber is not uncommon, nor are pieces with a shimmering chatoyance, reminiscent of Koa. Hardwood colors can range from a light golden brown to various dark shades of brown; streak and highlights of various differing colors is not uncommon. Sap colors can range from tan to a dull light gray, and is clearly demarcated. Its grains can range from straight to wavy to interlocked, and its texture is typically fine, with an impressive natural luster.Other than the occasional tear-out, issues associated with lumber with interlocking grains, the wood is very easily worked. It turns, glues, and finishes well. Australian Blackwood also bends easily, which combined with its toughness and durability,  has made it an historically popular wood in Australia for boat building.
boatbuilding, cabinetry, furniture, gun stocks, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Bloodwood
Bloodwood Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Also known as "Satine," Bloodwood is an exotic South American import that continues to grow in popularity here in the states. It's dark, savory red tones, untypically do not fade, mute or darken much over time. It is known for its "satiny," highly-chatoyant finish. While the heartwood typically is comprised of red hues, it is known to have variances ranging from oranges to pale yellows, interspersed. It's impressive density makes it ideal for an electric guitar fretboard or an acoustic guitar back and sides; wood turners love it, as well, for its fabulous, unique aesthetics and very reasonable price.The reason this wood continues to grow in popularity in the US with guitar builders, gun & knife manufacturers (handles) and wood turners, is due to the exceptional aesthetics, for which the species is known, and the very reasonable board-foot prices for which these boards generally sell. Boards of exceptional quality will command a premium, but still represent a whole lot of 'bang for the buck' for an imported exotic wood.
carving, furniture, inlay, knife handles, lutherie, trim, turnings
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Boire
Boire Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Boire is known throughout Africa to be a tough, durable wood, despite it's Maple-like density. It is reputed to remain smooth under friction, which makes it ideally suited for its primary use in flooring. The sapwood of Boire is pale brown in color; its heartwood is typically medium brown to bronze, with dark streaks (and sometimes other hues, such as oranges and yellows, intermingled). The species has interlocked grain, and fine and uniform in texture. Other than the tear-out commonly associated with interlocking grains, the wood has good working properties.This is not an exotic wood which has a boatload of information available with regard to it. Most all of the major US flooring websites that offer this wood share the exact same descriptions and specs, obviously copied one from another. In it, they list its Janka Hardness rating as 940 lbf. Conversely, Ken Goldstein's 2009 "Janka Hardness Test For Hardwoods" (http://ejmas.com/tin/2009tin/tinart_goldstein_0904.html) shows Boire having measured at 1326 lbf. Perhaps its density varies greatly, as the latter figure (1326) represents more than a 40% increase over the figure commonly given by US flooring industry sources.
cabinetry, construction, flooring, furniture, gun stocks, joinery, veneer
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Butternut
Butternut Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Known commonly by its nickname, "White Walnut" (a nickname which is well earned, as it is a member of the true walnut genus, Juglans), Butternut is considerably lighter and less dense than it's walnut (Juglans genus) compatriots; combined with its light weight and low density and hardness, it is very easy to work. Courtesy of its fluted trunks, the lumber produced by Butternut trees can have some irregular, but visually-striking, grain patterns. Found throughout the Eastern United States, Butternut's pleasant light tan coloration has gorgeous pastel look, and certain examples can exhibit a pink or reddish tint.
boxmaking, carving, crafting, furniture, veneer
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Cedar - Himalayan
Cedar - Himilayan Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Himalayan Cedar is an important timber tree in Pakistan, Kashmir and north-western India. Its wood is noted for being strong and durable mostly utilized in construction, carpentry and furniture applications in its indigenous regions. The trees are also known for the fragrant essential oil they produce (distilled from wood chips and sawdust), which is used throughout Northeast Asia to protect livestock from mosquitos, gnats and other airborne pests and it also has anti-fungal properties. Heartwood ranges from a light tan to light brown with a reddish tint. Grains are typically straight; it is fine, even textured with a high natural luster. The wood is reputed to have excellent working properties, as well as an impressive strength-to-weight ratio.
carpentry, construction, furniture, joinery
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Cedar - Japanese
Cedar - Japanese Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Japanese Cedar is the national tree of Japan, where it is highly-prized for the scented, strong, but lightweight timber it produces. It's significance extends beyond that, as its impact on Japanese culture is reflected by the fact that it is found planted at numerous sacred sites throughout the country. The wood is reddish-pink in color, straight-grained and medium textured; it glues, stains and finishes well. Its impressive strength-to-weight ratio and excellent working properties makes it ideal for all varieties of construction applications.
boatbuilding, carving, construction, furniture, turnings
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Cedrorana
Cedrorana Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
This somewhat obscure, seldom-seen South American wood is typically a light to golden brown color; with large open pores, marked by prominent red vessel lines, decorating its grainy surface. It is difficult to differentiate the sapwood, as it is only slightly lighter in color and not clearly demarcated. Its pores are some of the largest of any commercial lumber in the world, with vessel diameters routinely between 300 and 500 micrometers. The dark contrast of the pores give the wood a very unique "veiny" look that is popular with some Latin American furniture craftsmen.
construction, furniture, turnings
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Cerejeira
Cerejeira Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Cerejira is an important wood in the dry portions of central and southern South America. It is noted for its beauty, durability, strength and stability, thus making this tough, versatile wood ideal for a wide variety of applications. Left undisturbed, trees can grow to towering dimensions -- producing valuable, coveted slabs which are renowned for their incredibly detailed, almost 3D-like crotch sections.
cabinetry, construction, furniture, veneer
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Cerejeira - Crotch
Cerejeira - Crotch Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Cerejira is an important wood in the dry portions of central and southern South America. It is noted for its beauty, durability, strength and stability, thus making this tough, versatile wood ideal for a variety of applications. Left undisturbed, trees can grow to towering dimensions -- producing valuable, coveted slabs which are renowned for their incredibly detailed, 3D-like crotch sections.
cabinetry, construction, furniture, veneer
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Chakte Viga
chakteviga

This vibrant Central American wood can features primary colors ranging from orange to golden brown (with gold, red and sometimes even green accent coloration). It is thought to be the closest relative to Brazilwood (famous for its use in stringed-instrument bows), and Chakte Viga shares many of the same acoustic properties. Grains are straight, but sometimes interlocked -- otherwise, this wood works easily, and finishes well. It has a fine texture and excellent natural luster. Sap is a pale off-white to pale yellow.

Chakte Viga is a wood that has been starting to emerge from relative obscurity over the last decade or so, being one of the lesser-known and -demanded woods from the tropical Central America region. We feel it has a huge untapped potential as a guitar tonewood, as well as in fine furniture production in the US. The wood has some very subtle aesthetics, sometimes exhibiting a 3D-like shimmering chatoyance after being finished with clear lacquer.

fine furniture, furniture, inlay, turnings
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Chechen
Chechen Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Although not a true Dalbergia rosewood, this beautiful, fairly versatile wood holds many similarities. Chechen can be visually stunning -- with green, red, orange and gold hues (and brown & black lines) adorning its luxurious medium-brown bases, and occasional figuring which can range from subtle to quite dramatic. The wood has become increasingly more popular with veneer manufacturers, furniture craftsmen and guitar luthiers over the course of the last two decades, as it is a very durable, easy-to-work and -finish wood that is moderately priced for an exotic import.Chechen has endured a stigma which is actually a commonly held fallacy -- one powerful enough to generate its nickname, "Black Poisonwood", that working with this wood is dangerous. While some have claimed to have adverse reactions from working with it, those who work with it on a regular basis state that the opposite is true. The bark harvested from the trees which is poisonous to the touch (essentially, in the same way as Poison Ivy), but once the lumber has been processed, there are no harmful effects from handling the re-sawn boards. Aesthetic qualities, as well as weight and density, can vary greatly, depending on the specific environmental conditions of its growth.
cabinetry, flooring, furniture, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Cumaru
Cumaru Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Cumaru or Brazilian Teak is golden brown in color. It is extremely stiff, strong, hard and highly durable and can be an excellent substitute for Ipe for decking due to superb durability and weathering properties. It can be difficult to work due to its density and interlocked grain.
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
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Ebony - Amara
Ebony - Amara Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
According to the only sources we could find willing to step up to the plate on this wood, Amara Ebony and Macassar Ebony are of the exact same species (Diospyros Celebica), with the difference put forth being that Amara is exclusive to Indonesia. Amara is known for its deep chocolate browns with pink striping; the difference in its coloration and that of typical Macassar Ebony being attributed to the soil conditions in Indonesia. Its grains are more likely to be wavy or irregular than straight, with a fine texture and nice natural luster.Our experience yields a broader perspective, as we have found the wood sometimes with greens and reds, more similar to Malaysian Blackwood, at times with darker and more muted hues  and devoid of any pink shades. Pieces which more resemble Macassar have also contained gold - orange hues, in addition to pinks. It's sap content is tan in color and, despite its density, it has good working properties.
carving, furniture, inlay, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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Ebony - Black & White
Ebony - Black & White Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
More commonly known as "Pale Moon Ebony" to US guitar luthiers and aficionados, this Southeast Asian true Diospyros ebony is, without question, the world's most difficult, perplexing exotic wood and at times, one of its most visually stunning. (It's also one of its most sought-after.) The wood is known for the bold jet black ink lines which adorn its creamy, pale yellow base. Both the volume and pattern of its lines are unpredictable, varying greatly from piece to piece. Grains can be straight, wavy or irregular; its texture is fine, with a nice natural luster. Its hardness and density are quite moderate for an ebony.After being harvested or re-sawn, the wood exhibits a strong tendency to self-destruct -- often changing shape, cracking and checking -- if not quickly coated in wax. Although it's not currently viewed as endangered, the wood has always been in short supply in the US, despite an unquenchable demand from custom guitar builders and wood enthusiasts, alike. Other than the difficulties in drying, it has good working properties; it machines, turns, glues and finishes well.Because of its noted self-destructive tendencies, the wood is coated in wax almost immediately after being harvested. Given this, what little makes it to the US market arrives with very high moisture levels, necessitating further drying. (This is where it gets tricky.) Experience has shown that the best drying results are obtained by leaving the wood coated in wax and just patiently allowing it to air dry. Any attempts to speed up this process are very risky as the wood usually winds up punishing the impatient! Even when dried very slowly, the wood can still change shape. It's not unusual, at all, to find pieces with major surface checks and cracks that occur even while under wax. For this reason, you see significantly more craft-sized pieces than larger, resawable boards (which typically command a premium price). Recutting boards will speed up the drying process, but attentive care must be taken to prevent warpage of the cut pieces. Importation to the US has been through very limited, select channels on an irregular basis for a number of years.This wood is most always in short supply, while the demand remains constant. Rare Woods USA is very pleased to be able to offer a limited amount of larger boards and billets of this spectacular exotic wood. Lumber orders to Southeast Asia can sometimes take 12 to 18 months or more to fill, ship and receive. With the recent banning of rosewood and ebony exportation by the Laotian government, we're not sure how soon we'll be able to restock (if at all). For the last several years, US importation of Black & White Ebony has been exclusively from Laos.
cabinetry, carving, furniture, inlay, lutherie, specialty items, trim, turnings
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Ebony - Brown
Ebony - Brown Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Brown Ebony is not a true Ebony and it is slightly odd that this species derives its name from a genus generally known for its black coloring.  Like true ebonies though, Brown Ebony is very dense and hard to work.This South American species is popular for turning, musical instruments and decorative pieces.
carving, furniture, inlay, turnings
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Ebony - Indian
Ebony - Indian Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Indian Ebony is a true ebony which has been commonly used as a substitute for Gabon Ebony, due to its similar aesthetics. With a jet black base, occasional brown to muted orange striping (from mineral deposits) and a sap which can range from pale yellow to tan, one could certainly be forgiven for mistaking one for the other. That said, Indian Ebony is an exotic wood in very short supply -- more so even than Gabon. Its grains are generally straight or irregular, and its texture is fine. It has a high natural oil content, which yields a high degree of luster.

It also is a less dense and hard ebony, having a Janka Hardness rating slightly over 20% less than Gabon (2430 lbf vs. 3080). It is a very popular wood with turners, as it turns and finishes beautifully, and has good working properties. Indian Ebony is also regularly employed as an acoustic guitar fretboard, although supplies to the US luthier industry is sometimes sporadic.
carving, furniture, inlay, turnings
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Mexico, ME 04257
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