Shopping Cart

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
    0 results

    Title

    Qty

    Grade

    Price

    No items found
    Shop

    Browse SIMILAR lumber products by size, thickness, type or price

    Search With Filters
    Price
    Length
    Width
    Thickness
    Search
    Spoil your favorite “Wood Nutter” with a gift card from Rare Woods SA
    BLAF1209_1
    BLAF1209
    0.81"
    x 5.63" x
    23.94"
    Cracks,Edge defects

    $89.01

    BLAF1208_1
    BLAF1208
    0.69"
    x 2.94" x
    29"
    Edge defect

    $54.41

    BLAF1207_1
    BLAF1207
    0.69"
    x 3.25" x
    29.5"
    Cracks,Edge defect

    $61.79

    BLAF1205_1
    BLAF1205
    0.69"
    x 3.94" x
    26.13"
    Skip planed,Edge defect,Small bark inclusions

    $65.75

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

    $65.88

    BLAF1202_1
    BLAF1202
    0.81"
    x 4" x
    18.5"
    Skip planed,Edge defects,Cracks

    $48.11

    BLAF1201_1
    BLAF1201
    0.69"
    x 3.44" x
    30.5"
    Crack,Surface defect

    $67.28

    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
    0
      0
      Your Cart
      Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop

      Species Pricing Enquiry

      Species Pricing Enquiry