African Blackwood
Other Common Names: Congowood, Mozambique ebony, mpingo
Botanical Name: Dalbergia melanoxylon
Family: Leguminosae
Mature Tree Height, Diameter: 15-25 ft, rarely over 1 ft.
Weight @ 12% M/C: 83 lbs./ft.3
Working Properties: Difficult to plane and machine with tools. Excellent for turnery. Usually machined with metal-working equipment.
Growing Regions: Sudan to Mozambique, Angola, and Nigeria to Senegal
General Characteristics: Heartwood dark purplish brown with black streaking. Texture is fine and even. The grain is straight and wood is slightly oily.
Uses: Primarily used for woodwind instruments, guitars, turnery work, knife handles, walking sticks, carvings, and more.
Acceptable Substitutes: Honduras Rosewood
References: "A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Second Edition", Forest Products Society, 2001, pg. 211
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