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Ebony – Gabon

Diospyros crassiflora
Also known as |
African Ebony|Cameroon Ebony|Gabon Ebony|Gaboon Ebony|Nigerian Ebony

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Ebony - Gabon Lumber @ Rarewoods SA

With an unceasing worldwide demand, Gabon Ebony remains one of the world’s most expensive exotic woods. Trees are small and slow growing, contributing to its high price tag. Given this, finding long, undefective boards is quite rare; such pieces always command premium prices. Its signature jet black heartwood (which can sometimes contain streaks of browns, golden browns and even greys), combined with its great strength, durability and density, gives it universal appeal with instrument craftsmen.

Its dark neutral color and ability to hold detail makes it very popular with wood turners and carvers, also. The wood’s very high oil content yields a magnificent natural luster when sanded, although, as would be expected, this characteristic can pose challenges when gluing.

Populations from Madagascar are listed in CITES Appendix II and is categorized as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

Why We Love This Wood

Perhaps the most sought-after exotic wood in the world, as it is the traditional fingerboard "wood of choice" for orchestral stringed instruments (violins, violas, cellos, etc.) with its typically deep jet black heartwood. In the past few years, both the quality and supply of what has been made available to US markets has dipped, dramatically. In the face of an unwavering demand, this has resulted in greatly increased wholesale and retail pricing.

    Quick Look

    Ebony - Gabon Lumber @ Rarewoods SA
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    Vital Statistics

    Main Color GroupBlack
    Grain Pattern Even
    Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT359
    Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3950
    Janka Hardness - LBF2700
    Janka Hardness - N12030

    A Popular Choice in

    PRICING

    Browse all available species online below.
    Custom orders are also welcome. See pricelist for indicative pricing.
    For a more detailed quote, click enquire and be sure to include as much information as possible (I.e. grade, thickness, length, width, volume etc.)

    Other Species

    Chestnut - European

    Durable and relatively affordable, European Chestnut is a popular cladding species in Europe.  With looks similar to Oak and Ash, we are sure you will love the appearance of Sweet Chestnut.  Grain can be interlocked, but Chestnut is still relatively easy to work.  It can split relatively easily, so pre-drilling is essential.

    This is a new species for us here at Rare Woods and a first for South Africa.  We are delighted with what arrived and can’t wait to get it into some of your projects.

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    Common Uses
    chestnut-european
    Longhi

    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.

    Common Uses:
    cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
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    Common Uses
    longhi
    Birch - Flame Roasted

    “Roasting” Flame Birch involves gradually heating the wood up to temperatures of greater than 160 degrees celcius in special heat chambers made of stainless steel under anoxic conditions. The heat removes organic compounds from the wood cells, changing both the physical and chemical make-up of the wood. The process is natural and chemical free. It darkens the wood to a beautiful rich chocolatey brown color whilst still showing the gorgeous grain and figure of the underlying wood.

    The thermally modified wood is more dimensionally stable, but the process does reduce bending strength and make the wood a little more brittle. This makes it chip a little easier than the un-modified lumber. The brittleness makes it less suitable for intricate cabinetry, but it is still an excellent choice for less intricate items such as floors, tops, panels, cladding etc.

    Extra care needs to be taken when finishing thermally modified wood, as the “bone dry” wood has a tendency to “suck in” much of what is given to it. Our in-house woodworking specialist has had excellent results with Osmo PolyX. He suggests a thicker finish will work better.

    Common Uses:
    flooring, interior panelling
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    Common Uses
    birch-flame-roasted
    Melunak

    This Malaysian species is a medium weight timber suitable for light structural purposes. It is a popular joinery timber and it machines easily and finishes well.

    Common Uses:
    furniture, joinery
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    Common Uses
    melunak
    Anegre

    Indigenous to the tropical regions of East Africa and West Africa, as far south as Angola.¬† Anegre has been used primarily as an interior wood; it is decidedly non-durable, and thus not recommended for outdoor applications. The wood’s aesthetics can vary greatly, as Anegre is comprised of three separate species within the Pouteria genus. Its colors can range from pale yellowish to orangish-brown wood, to a pale pinkish-brown, sometimes with additional highlight coloration. Anegre typically darkens to a golden-to reddish brown over time, with repeated UV ray exposure. The heartwood and sapwood of Anegre are usually not distinguishable from each other.

    Anegre has a medium texture with closed pores similar to Maple.  The species is easy to work with both hand and power tools.
    Examples can be quite beautiful — and sometimes stunning, with curly and mottled figuring being not uncommon. Its hues tend to be generally pastel in nature, so it makes a very complimentary, aesthetically unimposing wood for a variety of interior applications. Grains are typically straight but can occasionally be interlocked. Its texture is medium and it has a nice natural luster.

    Common Uses:
    boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
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    Common Uses
    anegre
    Birch - Masur

    Masur Birch (also known as Karelian Birch) is not a species in of itself, but rather a particular grain figure that occurs in various species of European Birch.  The result is a beautiful marble like figure – a mix between burl and birdseye.

    The cause of this figure is uncertain.  Some say that it comes from a tree’s reaction to invasion by the larvae of the Agromyzia carbonara beetle, but the general opinion seems to be that it is hereditary, classifying the name of the variant as Betula pendula var. Carelica.  Regardless of the exact origin of the figure, it provides us with stunning and unique looking lumber, just begging to be showcased in some fine woodworking. It is most commonly used in accent details, turned objects, knife handles and other small specialty items.

    Veneers of Masur Birch are rotary cut (like Birdseye Maple) to ensure the best figure is extracted for the veneer.

    Common Uses:
    fine furniture, knife handles, specialty items, turnings, veneer
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    Common Uses
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      Volume Primer

      Our bulk packs are sold in units of volume. (1 pack = 0.1m3).
      Depending on thickness and length you select, you will get a different effective total width. Depending on the widths we select, you will also get a different number of pcs.

      For example, 0.1m3 of 2.45m lengths will get you the following +- TOTAL WIDTH and +- PCS (assuming an average piece width of 140mm) for each thickness:

      M3LENGTHTHICKNESSTOTAL WIDTH+- PCS
      0.12.4526mm1570mm9-12
      0.12.4538mm1075mm6-9
      0.12.4550mm816mm4-7

      Pricing Enquiry

      Quote Request - Species