Tulipwood
Dalbergia decipularis: Dalbergia frutescens
• Also known as |
Brazilian Tulipwood|Jacaranda Rosa|Pau de Fuso|Pinkwood|Tulipwood
Quick Look
Tulipwood is one of the most coveted and seldom-seen of all (Dalbergia genus) rosewood species. The trees are very small in stature, thus, obtaining long, wide boards is quite rare — and, when found undefective, sell at a premium. It is much more commonly found in smaller, craft-sized pieces. Finding any available boards in widths of 5″ or more is uncommon.
Its heartwood is cream to salmon colored, highlighted by striping which can be any combination of red, violet, purple, pink and rose hues. The sapwood is pale yellow to a very pale yellowish white. Heartwood color gradually fades with continued UV ray exposure.
Tulipwood is typically straight-grained, although grains can also be wavy or (infrequently) irregular. The wood has a high natural oil content and is quite dense, which makes working it an often-difficult prospect. Despite being rather grainy and pourous, it sands very smooth, revealing a pleasing natural luster.
This species is listed in CITES Appendix II, but not yet on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Why We Love This Wood
There is some confusion surrounding this wood, as many have confused it with Tulip Poplar (which is indigenous to North America). It has also been misidentified as also originating from the Dalbergia Frutescens tree by many sources / authorities, after originally being miscategorized as a non-Dalbergia ("Physocalymma Scaberrima").
Finding any sizable boards is pretty rare in the US, especially ones without some sort of significant defect. Its supply is inconsistent, at best, due not only to the very small tree size, but also to a very limited natural range (exclusive to Northeastern Brazil).
Quick Look
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Vital Statistics
Main Color Group | Pink |
Grain Pattern | Pronounced |
Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT3 | 60 |
Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3 | 970 |
Janka Hardness - LBF | 2500 |
Janka Hardness - N | 11120 |
A Popular Choice in
tulipwood
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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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Birch Plywood
Available in a range of thicknesses and grades, Birch Plywood is a wonderful, high-end board product used in the production of cabinets, furniture and more. With a consistent layer thicknesses, a thick veneer face and all voids patched, Birch Plywood is visually appealing on face grain and end grain, structurally sound and stable in use (indoor application only).
Our Birch Plywood comes from Eastern Europe and we stock both S/BB and BB/BB grades with thicknesses ranging from 6.5mm to 21mm in standard sheet dimensions of 2.45mx1.22m
Grade Summary:
S/BB: Better face clear – may have occasional patch. Second face is BB grade.
BB/BB: both faces are grade BB. Can be up to 29 patches, a side, but typically 3-6 patches a side.
Common Uses:
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
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Common Uses
birch-plywood
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
cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
Detail
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
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
furniture, joinery
Detail
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
boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
Detail
Common Uses
anegre