Species

Already know what you're looking for?

Species Discovery Filters

FILTERS:
Reset All
Wenge
Wenge Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Wenge is unique among the world's exotic woods. This tough tropical wood's distinctive deep chocolate color -- which can sometimes augmented by muted gold, orange, red or even burgundy tint -- is actually known as "Wenge" in the color spectrum nomenclature of various parts of the world (with paint manufacturers, etc.). Its grains are generally straight (though sometimes wavy or irregular) and are accenuated by overlapping black lines which typically decorate the board's surface.While being considered a strong, durable wood, Wenge's course, rugged texture makes it very splintery -- making some craftsmen hesitant to use it. It can be difficult to work, although is glues well and is considered a very dimensionally stable species.Exercise caution when working with this wood. Its splinters can be like little razors and when one pentetrates the skin, it is quite painful and the area can quickly and easily get infected, if quick action isn't taken to remove it (the splinter) and sterilize the area.Although most sources consider Wenge to be a dull wood with poor natural luster, our experience has revealed that a deep, glossy luster can sometimes emerge through fine-grit sanding of flatsawn boards. Its combination of relatively light weight, rot & insect resistance and impressive tensil strength has yielded the wood to a variety of indoor and outdoor uses, being particularly well suited for flooring in heavy traffic areas.
bows, cabinetry, flooring, furniture, handles, paneling, specialty items, veneer, walking sticks
Detail
Detail
Common Uses
Palmyra - Black
Palmyra - Black Lumber @ Rare Woods USA
Not unlike its coconut-producing cousin, Red Palm, Black Palmyra (perhaps better known as "Black Palm" in the US) is unique among exotic woods in several ways. First, it's tree is not categorized a hardwood or softwood tree, but as a flowering plant: Monocotyledon (or "Monocot"). Secondly, the tree is comprised of two entirely different layers: at its core is a soft, spongy cellulose mass; this soft core is surrounded by a protective body, comprised of dense, overlapping layers of interwoven fibrovascular strands. It is this hard, dense protective layer that is considered its wood.

While it is considered to be typically straight grained, because of its toughness the wood can be very diificult to work; splintering and tearouts are not uncommon. It is a dimensionally stable wood, but it requires sharp blades and precise-angled cuts to get acceptable results when resawing this wood.
boatbuilding, construction, flooring, furniture, handles, turnings, walking sticks
Detail
Detail
Common Uses