Katalox

Katalox (Swartzia cubensis) is sold as Mexican Royal Ebony. It grows from southern Mexico through Central America, and while it isn’t a true ebony, it’s denser than most ebonies and darkens considerably with age, often with lovely purplish tones.
Freshly cut, the heartwood is reddish to purplish brown with darker streaks, maturing to a near-black over time, and the pale yellow sapwood makes a striking contrast. The grain can be straight, irregular or interlocked, with a fine to medium texture and a nice luster.
It’s very difficult to resaw because of its density, and its natural oils can make gluing tricky, so wipe joints with a solvent first. It turns well and polishes to a beautiful finish. The heartwood is among the most durable of any exotic, though the sapwood can have insect holes.
Its stability and handsome looks make Katalox a favorite with guitar makers for fretboards and backs and sides, and with fine furniture builders. It’s also used for flooring, inlay, knife handles and turnings.
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Illegal logging in Mexico has affected supply.
Why We Love This Wood
We love the purplish tones that come through on this dense, gorgeous species.
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Vital Statistics
| Main Color Group | Dark Brown |
| Grain Pattern | Even |
| Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF | 6 |
| Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 1150 |
| Janka Hardness - LBF | 3660 |
| Janka Hardness - N | 16260 |
PRE-CUT SIZES (Katalox)
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Turning Square
$13.00 – $28.00Price range: $13.00 through $28.00
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LUMBER PACKS (Katalox)
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