Cocobolo

Dalbergia retusa
Also known as |
Coco|Cocobolo Rosewood
Cocobolo Lumber @ Rare Woods USA

Cocobolo is a truly exquisite exotic wood that remains in high demand with fine furniture craftsmen and guitar luthiers, alike. It is renowned for its often amazing array of colors and for being an extremely dense, stable and 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.

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 near future.

Cocobolo 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 unusually 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.

Why We Love This Wood

The rich color palette just oozes sophistication...

Client Creations
    Quick Look
    Cocobolo Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
    https://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/clarcase-rogergarrett-coco.jpg,Roger Garret http://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TomGuelcher-chest.jpg,Tom Guelcher http://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1580373599-PadaukTableCocoboloAfBlackwood_BrianHarvey.jpg,http://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/212846.jpg,http://www.rarewoodsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/1580373601-PadaukTableCocoboloBreadboardsAfBlackwoodHandles_BrianHarvey.jpg,Brian Harvey
    A Popular Choice in
    Vital Statistics
    Main Color GroupDark Brown, Variegated
    Grain Pattern Pronounced
    Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF5.8
    Avg Dry Weight - KG/M31095
    Janka Hardness - LBF2960
    Janka Hardness - N14140
    PRE-CUT SIZES (Cocobolo)
    3 results

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    Dimensions

    Grade

    Price

    Turning Square

    A

    Price range: $29.00 through $160.00

    yes

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    LUMBER PACKS (Cocobolo)
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    COCO1580_1
    COCO1580
    0.94"
    x 3.38" x
    18.88"
    | Grade: A
    Tear out. Planer mark.

    $39.66

    COCO1579_1
    COCO1579
    0.94"
    x 2.88" x
    24.06"
    | Grade: AB
    Skip planed. Wormholes. Checks.

    $39.85

    COCO1578_1
    COCO1578
    0.94"
    x 2.06" x
    24.31"
    | Grade: AB
    Skip planed. Planer mark.

    $29.25

    COCO1577_1
    COCO1577
    0.94"
    x 2.88" x
    24.25"
    | Grade: AB
    Wormholes.

    $39.80

    COCO1576_1
    COCO1576
    0.94"
    x 3" x
    24.06"
    | Grade: A
    Skip planed. Some tear out. Small knots. Checks.

    $45.10

    COCO1575_1
    COCO1575
    0.94"
    x 3.06" x
    24.06"
    | Grade: AB
    Wormholes. Small edge defect. Some tear out.

    $41.70

    COCO1574_1
    COCO1574
    0.94"
    x 2.13" x
    24.13"
    | Grade: A
    Wormholes. Some tear out.

    $32.67

    COCO1573_1
    COCO1573
    0.94"
    x 2.56" x
    23.75"
    | Grade: AB
    Wormholes. Checks. Edge defects. Knot.

    $33.90

    COCO1572_1
    COCO1572
    0.94"
    x 2" x
    24"
    | Grade: AB
    Surface defects. Edge defects. Bark inclusions.

    $27.60

    COCO1571_1
    COCO1571
    0.94"
    x 3" x
    24.06"
    | Grade: AB
    Edge defect. Knot.

    $41.75

    COCO1570_1
    COCO1570
    0.94"
    x 2.94" x
    24.25"
    | Grade: AB
    Small knots. Small bark inclusions.

    $40.50

    COCO1569_1
    COCO1569
    0.94"
    x 2" x
    24"
    | Grade: A
    Small knots.

    $29.81

    COCO1568_1
    COCO1568
    0.94"
    x 2.38" x
    23.88"
    | Grade: A
    Planer mark. Clean.

    $36.08

    COCO1567_1
    COCO1567
    0.94"
    x 2.19" x
    23.81"
    | Grade: A
    Planer mark. Small bark inclusion.

    $32.95

    COCO1566_1
    COCO1566
    0.94"
    x 2.13" x
    24.13"
    | Grade: AB
    Surface defects. Bark inclusions. Checks. Knots.

    $29.70

    cocobolo
    ALSO AVAILABLE (Cocobolo)

    Description

    Grade

    UOM

    Price

    Cocobolo-Standard-4/4Lumber
    4/4 Lumber
    Standard
    bf
    70
    bf
    no
    Cocobolo-Standard-6/4Lumber

    6/4 Lumber

    Standard
    bf
    80
    bf
    no
    Cocobolo-Standard-8/4Lumber

    8/4 Lumber

    Standard
    bf
    85
    bf
    no