Rosewood – East Indian

East Indian Rosewood can vary greatly in color. Although its base color is mostly always brown, the shades can range from golden brown to purplish or dark reddish brown. Secondary colors are often present. The wood’s colors will darken with continued UV exposure. East Indian Rosewood is generally less dense than most other rosewoods. Its grains are typically interlocked (although they can be irregular or straight), which can make it difficult to work. Care must be taken when finishing the wood, as it is not uncommon for the wood’s natural resins to impose if it is not first sealed. It has a medium texture.
Since the exportation ban on Brazilian Rosewood, more than twenty years ago, it has become a popular substitute with corporate guitar manufacturers (electric and acoustic, alike) — due in large part to its historically steady supply and relatively low cost (compared with other Dalbergia’s). By comparison to Brazilian Rosewood, its pores are smaller, but it is also a very durable wood that’s not overly susceptible to bug damage/infestation and it is considered stable after drying.
Don’t confuse this species with Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) which can also be referred to as¬† “Indian Rosewood” in certain locales. It is believed that Sonokeling: a true Dalbergia indigenous to Indonesia — where it is also known as “Jacaranda” is also Dalbergia latifolia, however tree farmers in Indonesia are not in agreement with this assessment. Our research into Indonesia and the cultivation of rosewood trees there revealed that back in the 1700’s, while the Indonesian islands were considered a colony of Holland, Dutch merchant colonists transplanted two major Dalbergia’s to Indonesia: Dalbergia Nigra (Brazilian Rosewood), from Brazil, and Dalbergia sissoo (Indian Rosewood), from India.¬† This could well be a botanical mystery worthy of further investigation for the detail oriented student of the Dalbergia genus.
Listed in CITES Appendix II — part of the Dalbergia -genus worldwide exportation ban — and is classified as “Vulenerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Why We Love This Wood
A gorgeous, readily available, more affordably priced alternative to Brazilian Rosewood for use as a tone wood.
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Vital Statistics
Main Color Group | Variegated |
Grain Pattern | Pronounced |
Avg Dry Weight - LB/BF | 4.3 |
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 830 |
Janka Hardness - LBF | 2440 |
Janka Hardness - N | 10870 |
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6/4 Lumber
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Rosewood – East Indian
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$51.70
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$85.49
Skip planed, two inch crack on one face, middle of board.
$4.00 – $35.00
Our East Indian Rosewood 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. You won’t necessarily receive surfaced blanks.
$7.30 – $38.00
Our East Indian Rosewood Bowl Blanks come in range of sizes and are excellent quality lumber.
The end-grain as been sealed. 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. You won’t typically received surfaced blanks, but we surface a few on the photographs to give you an idea of what the lumber looks like.
$75.00
East Indian Rosewood turning blanks
- 5 x East Indian Rosewood: 12 x 2 x 2
- 2 x East Indian Rosewood: 12 x 1 x 1
Any woodturners delight…!
Please note: we surfaced one edge on the samples to show how they will look. You won’t necessarily received surfaced blanks.
Other Species
Gorgeous colors and grain patterns have resulted in the exploitation of this beautiful species for use in production of “Hongmu” furniture. It looks similar in appearance to Kiaat/Muninga, another member of the Pterocarpus genus. We only have a few hundred BF of this endangered species left and don’t expect to get any more when it runs out.
boxmaking, cabinetry, inlay, knife handles, specialty items
This South American species is closely related to the domestic Osage Orange.
The lumber it yields is typically a bit cleaner with less defects.
It is pretty hard and dense making it tough on tools, but it turns and finishes well.
boxmaking, cabinetry, carving, crafting, inlay, specialty items
Spalted Tamarind comes from South East Asia. The decay/spalting gives the wood awesome spiderweb type patterns that add character and excitement to its appearance. The spalting is most prevalent in the sapwood which is prone to attack from bugs and fungus which cause it.
It is moderately difficult to work, but turns and finishes well. Sometimes the rot is more endemic than is obvious from looking at the surface of the lumber result in some wastage (lost pieces).
Take care to use good dust collection and a dust mask, as the fungal spores add more to the air than dust alone.
boxmaking, inlay, specialty items, turnings
This vibrant Central American wood can features primary colors ranging from orange to golden brown (with gold, red and sometimes even green accent coloration). It is thought to be the closest relative to Brazilwood (famous for its use in stringed-instrument bows), and Chakte Viga shares many of the same acoustic properties. Grains are straight, but sometimes interlocked — otherwise, this wood works easily, and finishes well. It has a fine texture and excellent natural luster. Sap is a pale off-white to pale yellow.
Chakte Viga is a wood that has been starting to emerge from relative obscurity over the last decade or so, being one of the lesser-known and -demanded woods from the tropical Central America region. We feel it has a huge untapped potential as a guitar tonewood, as well as in fine furniture production in the US. The wood has some very subtle aesthetics, sometimes exhibiting a 3D-like shimmering chatoyance after being finished with clear lacquer.
fine furniture, furniture, inlay, turnings
Longhi is an African wood with similar working properties to its more well-known cousin, Anegre. Its color varies from a greyish-white to beige to pinkish-brown color, which slightly darkens with age and UV-ray exposure. Its generally light appearance makes sapwood difficult to distinguish. Its grains are typical straight (though occasionally interlocked) and its texture ranges between fine and medium-fine. It can sometimes possess mottled or subtle tiger-striped figuring.
The wood must be carefully dried, as it is susceptible to fungus. It is considered to be moderately durable, and moderately stable. Longhi has a solid strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it a popular choice for flooring and decking.
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
Heartwood can vary from pale yellow to a light, muted reddish brown; sapwood is grayish-white. There are many species of Birch, worldwide; it is one of the most popular woods, ironically, for both veneer and utility applications. Figured pieces are the more desirable for veneer, with wide, dramatic curly figuring (similar to Cherry) decorating the surface.
American Birch works easily — it turns, glues and finishes well — although most boards have very little natural luster. It’s a versatile wood that can be used for a number of different applications, but it needs to be protected, as the wood will decay when exposed to the elements. (… and if left unprotected will rot.)
boxmaking, cabinetry, crafting, flooring, furniture