African Blackwood Exotic Pen & Turning Blanks

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.

Wood is a natural product, and pieces may vary slightly. Due to wood movement, shrinkage, and expansion, please measure each piece carefully.  Dimensioned within +/-1/8” of size listed.

Due to international shipping restrictions, this product can only be shipped in the US.

WARNING! Wood Dust created by Drilling, sawing, sanding or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. Click here for more information.