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Among the world’s most prestigious hardwoods, African Blackwood stands unrivaled for its density, natural polish, and deep, rich color. Often considered the hardest and most luxurious wood on earth, it’s cherished by instrument makers, fine turners, and artisans who demand absolute perfection.
From clarinets and bagpipes to fine jewelry boxes and heirloom pens, African Blackwood Lumber is the standard of excellence when precision and beauty truly matter.
African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is a species of the rosewood family, native to dry savannas across Tanzania, Mozambique, and parts of East Africa. Despite its name, it’s technically a true rosewood. It is known for its deep black or purplish-brown tone, fine texture, and extreme density.
Historically, it has been used for woodwind instruments, luxury inlay, and precision tools, prized for its stability, workability, and rich acoustic properties. Many of these characteristics are as a result of its slow growth, density, and rarity,
African Blackwood is one of the most valuable woods in the world, often priced higher than gold by weight in instrument-grade billets.
African Blackwood’s visual appeal lies in its understated elegance and a colour close to ebony.
• Heartwood: Jet black to deep violet-brown, occasionally with dark streaks.
• Sapwood: Pale yellow-white, sharply contrasting when left visible.
• Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked.
• Texture: Very fine and uniform, naturally oily to the touch.
• Luster: Subtle, with a natural polish even before finishing.
Though often mistaken for true ebony, African Blackwood is denser, finer-grained, and more stable — making it the preferred choice for precision work.
African Blackwood is one of the densest and hardest woods on earth, but it rewards careful craftsmanship with unmatched smoothness and longevity.
• Janka Hardness: ~3,670 lbf (extremely hard).
• Density: Very heavy and oily.
• Workability: Excellent for turning and fine cutting; tough on dull tools.
• Turning: Excellent. It is ideal for fine detail and mirror finishes.
• Gluing & Screwing: Requires fresh surfaces due to natural oils.
• Finishing: Superb; polishes to a natural, glass-like sheen without topcoat.
Few woods turn or polish like African Blackwood. Its natural oils allow a finish that feels hand-buffed straight from the workbench.
African Blackwood is reserved for projects that demand durability, dimension, and visual authority. It’s a small-format, high-value wood ideal for fine work.
• Musical instruments (clarinets, oboes, bagpipes, recorders)
• Fine turning projects (pens, bowls, handles)
• Knife handles and precision tools
• Luxury furniture inlays
• Sculptural art and jewelry boxes
Because of its natural luster and acoustic resonance, it’s considered the gold standard for professional wind instruments worldwide.
Some of the advantages of African blackwood lumber include:
• Extreme Density and Strength: One of the world’s hardest woods.
• Dimensional Stability: Minimal movement under any climate.
• Polishes Naturally: Mirror-like finish without synthetic coatings.
• Deep, Rich Color: Jet-black
• Exceptional Acoustics: Resonates with clarity and precision.
African Blackwood combines technical perfection with visual luxury, making it an icon of craftsmanship.
Its density and value demand care. That being said, those who work with it once never forget the experience.
• Tool Wear: Dulls edges quickly; carbide tooling recommended.
• Dust Sensitivity: Use proper protection; dust can be irritating.
• Limited Availability: Export controlled; supply can fluctuate.
• Gluing: Requires freshly abraded surfaces for best bond strength.
• Cost: One of the most expensive woods on the global market.
African Blackwood isn’t for wasteful projects. It’s wood to honour through precision and intention.
Few woods require less finish than this one. When turned or polished properly, it glows without needing stain or lacquer.
• None (polished finish): Burnish with progressively finer grits up to 3000g
• Danish or Tung Oil: Optional for enhancing depth and warmth.
• CA Glue or friction polish: Excellent for pens and small turned pieces.
• Wax: Perfect for adding a silky feel to hand-turned items.
💡 Pro Tip: avoid any stains or dyes. They’ll only mask the natural brilliance already present in the wood.
Both are renowned for their dark tone, but their properties differ subtly.
|
Feature |
African Blackwood |
Ebony |
|
Color |
Jet black to dark violet-brown |
Deep black, uniform |
|
Hardness |
~3,670 lbf |
~3,080 lbf |
|
Texture |
Finer, more oily |
Brittle, slightly coarser |
|
Stability |
Superior; resists cracking |
Prone to checking |
|
Workability |
Easier for fine detail |
More brittle, chips easily |
|
Common Use |
Instruments, turning |
Inlays, fingerboards |
African Blackwood offers the beauty of Ebony with superior stability and precision performance.
Because of its rarity and small tree size, African Blackwood is typically sold in small billets, blocks, or turning blanks rather than large boards.
• True heartwood color: Deep, uniform black or purple-black tone.
• Fine texture: Tight, smooth grain with minimal pores.
• Kiln-dried stock: Prevents surface checking and movement.
• Straight grain: Essential for instrument and turning applications.
• Kiln-dried and precision-cut for fine work
• Selected for color uniformity and density
• Available in turning, pen, and instrument-grade blanks
• Responsibly sourced under CITES Appendix II regulations
Each piece we offer represents the pinnacle of exotic wood craftsmanship.
Fun Fact: The Sound of Excellence
Nearly every professional clarinet and bagpipe chanter in the world is made from African Blackwood. Its density and resonance allow instruments to project with unmatched clarity. This is a tradition dating back over 150 years.
Q: Is African Blackwood a true ebony?
No—it’s a rosewood species, but denser and more stable than most ebonies.
Q: Why is African Blackwood so expensive?
It grows slowly, yields small logs, and requires specialized harvesting — making it one of the rarest hardwoods traded legally today.
Q: Is African Blackwood sustainable?
Yes—ours is responsibly sourced under strict export and reforestation controls (CITES Appendix II).
Q: Can African Blackwood be turned easily?
Yes—with sharp tools. It produces mirror finishes straight off the lathe.
African Blackwood represents the pinnacle of exotic hardwoods. It is a material revered by musicians, artisans, and fine woodworkers for centuries. Its deep tone, flawless texture, and unmatched tonal qualities make it both a joy to work with and a symbol of mastery.
At The Knotty Lumber Co., we hand-select African Blackwood blanks and billets for their density, color purity, and structural perfection. This makes it ideal for instrument makers, turners, and collectors seeking excellence in every grain.
When your project demands the best of the best, African Blackwood delivers beauty that endures for generations.
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