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Blackwood – African

Dalbergia melanoxylon
Also known as |
African Blackwood|Mpingo
Blackwood - African Lumber @ Rare Woods USA

African Blackwood is native to the seasonally dry regions of Africa, from Senegal eastwards to Eritrea and southwards to the northern parts of South Africa. Without question, the densest and most un-rosewood-like of the Dalbergia’s (for our money, at least!), African Blackwood is a consistent favorite with acoustic guitar luthiers, wood turners, carvers and fine furniture craftsmen, alike. It remains one of the world’s most coveted musical woods. African Blackwood often appears almost completely black, with its grains hardly discernible. (… thus the name. After sanding, a deep, very dark chocolate color emerges.)

Given its trees’ very small profile and the fact that they also commonly grow somewhat twisted (rather than straight up), finding long, straight boards of African Blackwood is a daunting task. It is so dark and dense, it’s almost inconceivable that it is a true Dalbergia-genus rosewood. Expect exceptional pieces to command a premium, as prices have increased, while supplies have drastically decreased over the last several years.

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II and the IUCN reports it as being “near threatened.”

Why We Love This Wood

Hard to get clean sections and hard to work, but the results are totally worth the effort!

Client Creations
    Quick Look
    Blackwood - African Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
    https://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ornaments-African-Blackwood-Gold-Leaf1.jpg,https://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ornaments-African-Blackwood-Gold-Leaf2.jpg,David Datwyler http://dev.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1580373599-PadaukTableCocoboloAfBlackwood_BrianHarvey.jpg,http://dev.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/212846.jpg,http://dev.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1580373601-PadaukTableCocoboloBreadboardsAfBlackwoodHandles_BrianHarvey.jpg,Brian Harvey http://dev.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1580373798-AfricanBlackwoodBell_GaryMiller1.jpg,http://dev.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1580373799-AfricanBlackwoodBell_GaryMiller2.jpg,Gary Miller
    A Popular Choice in
    Vital Statistics
    Main Color GroupBlack
    Grain Pattern Even
    Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF6.6
    Avg Dry Weight - KG/M31270
    Janka Hardness - LBF3670
    Janka Hardness - N16320
    Pricing

    Description

    Grade

    UOM

    Price

    Blackwood-African-Select&better-4/4-8/4Lumber
    4/4-8/4 Lumber
    Select & better
    bf
    95
    bf
    no
    Blackwood-African-Rustic-3/4Live-edgedS2Sboards

    3/4 Live-edged S2S boards

    Rustic
    lb
    9
    lb
    no
    Blackwood-African-Ungraded-Artpieces

    Art pieces

    Ungraded
    lb
    3.4
    lb
    no
    Blackwood-African-Ungraded-Logs

    Logs

    Ungraded
    lb
    6
    lb
    no

    Pre-cut Sizes
    Lumber Packs
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    Spoil your favorite “Wood Nutter” with a gift card from Rare Woods SA
    BLAF1228_1
    BLAF1228
    0.88"
    x 3.56" x
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    Cracks. Checks. Bark inclusions.

    $101.39

    BLAF1227_1
    BLAF1227
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    $151.12

    BLAF1226_1
    BLAF1226
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    Cracks. Checks. Bark inclusion.

    $145.15

    BLAF1225_1
    BLAF1225
    0.94"
    x 3.88" x
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    Cracks. Bark inclusions.

    $144.13

    BLAF1223_1
    BLAF1223
    0.81"
    x 4" x
    38.5"
    Cracks. Bark inclusions.

    $117.71

    BLAF1222_1
    BLAF1222
    0.94"
    x 5.69" x
    38.81"
    Checks. Bark inclusions. Defect in surface.

    $167.57

    BLAF1221_1
    BLAF1221
    0.75"
    x 5" x
    35.63"
    Cracks. Bark inclusions.

    $130.34

    BLAF1220_1
    BLAF1220
    0.94"
    x 4.31" x
    39.5"
    Crack.

    $129.04

    BLAF1218_1
    BLAF1218
    0.88"
    x 4.06" x
    43"
    Cracks. Bark inclusion.

    $118.31

    BLAF1217_1
    BLAF1217
    0.88"
    x 3" x
    22.75"
    Cracks. Grain deterioration. Skip planed. Defect in end resulting in thickness of 0.69”.

    $45.33

    BLAF1214_1
    BLAF1214
    0.88"
    x 4.88" x
    33.31"
    Cracks. Split. Bark inclusions.

    $108.69

    BLAF1204_1
    BLAF1204
    0.63"
    x 5.25" x
    19.75"
    Edge defects,Surface defects,Cracks,bark inclusions

    $65.88

    turnblaf 1
    TURNBLAF1001
    Our African Blackwood turning blanks 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.

    $12.00$44.00

    turnblafclarb 2
    BLAF_BELLSB_EA
    3.25"
    x 3.25" x
    5"
    African Blackwood clarinet bell blanks. These Bell blanks were rejected by the musical instrument trade for having small defects. They are still amazing for turning and other specialty items. Height = 5″, Base diameter = +- 3.25″, Top diameter = +-1.5″ We have them in 2 shapes (shown in the photos) Unless you call in to […]

    $14.00

    blafbagpipes 2
    BAGPBLAF1001
    10"
    x 10" x
    15"
    African Blackwood Bagpipe Set – Instrument Grade. 14 Pieces (metric mm / +- imperial inches): 1 of 54 x 54 x 305 / 2 x 2 x 12 2 of 51 x 51 x 205 / 2 x 2 x 8 1 of 38 x 38 x 385 / 1.5 x 1.5 x 15 1 […]

    $450.00

    blackwood-african
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