Leadwood

Leadwood (Combretum imberbe) gets its name from its weight and density: it sinks in water. It’s a southern African wood that’s seldom seen in the US as lumber, and the trees are revered in their home range, with some thought to be well over a thousand years old.
The heartwood is medium to dark brown, sometimes reddish, and darkens with age, with pale yellow sapwood. The grain is straight or irregular, knots aren’t unusual, and the texture is fine and consistent.
Its density makes it hard to plane and tough on tools, and its oils can make gluing tricky, but it turns, sands and finishes beautifully, holding the finest detail. It’s strong, stable and insect-resistant, making it excellent for outdoor work. Dead Leadwood trees can stand for decades without rotting.
Carvers and turners love it for its consistent color and texture. In Africa it was traditionally used for hoes and tool handles before metal tools arrived, and it’s still prized as a slow, hot-burning fuel. Today it’s used for turnings, carving, knife handles, furniture accents and specialty pieces.
Not currently listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Declared a protected tree in South Africa in 2022.
Why We Love This Wood
Consistent, stable and dense enough to hold the finest detail. Carvers who know it love it.
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Vital Statistics
| Main Color Group | Variegated |
| Grain Pattern | Figured |
| Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF | 6.3 |
| Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 1220 |
| Janka Hardness - LBF | 3570 |
| Janka Hardness - N | 15880 |
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