African Blackwood Wood Blanks: The World’s Premier Turning Wood

The "Metal-Like" Tonewood: Unrivaled Density and Precision

African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), also known as Mpingo or Grenadilla, is a legendary exotic hardwood native to the dry savanna regions of Central and Southern Africa. Historically used in Ancient Egypt, this wood is technically a true Rosewood, offering superior stability and resistance to warping compared to standard ebonies.

Appearance & Texture: While it appears as black as night from a distance, close inspection reveals deep violet streaks and a dark brown or purplish hue. Its grain is typically straight with an exceptionally fine, even texture. The pale yellow sapwood is thin and provides a striking, sharp contrast against the dark heartwood, making it a favorite for decorative carving and high-end pool cues.

Workability & Technical Specs: With a staggering average dried weight of 79 lbs/ft³ and a Janka hardness of 3,670 lbf, African Blackwood is one of the densest woods on Earth. It is famously difficult to work with hand tools—often requiring metal-working equipment—but it excels in applications requiring intricate detail. It is the gold standard for woodturning, capable of holding threads and complex patterns with "metal-like" precision.

Common Applications:

• Musical Instruments: The preferred choice for professional-grade clarinets, oboes, and bagpipes.

• Fine Woodturning: Ideal for tool handles, pens, and decorative bowls.

• Luthiery: Highly prized as a premium tonewood for guitar backs, sides, and fingerboards.

• Custom Crafts: Extensively used for knife handles, walking sticks, and ornamental inlay.

Note: Due to its slow growth and CITES Appendix II listing, African Blackwood is a rare, high-value material on par with Gaboon Ebony.