Business Information

• Special Terms or Minimum Order:
        The largest source of lignum vitae in the USA!
• Retail or retail/wholesale supplier
• Mail orders accepted
• Sells boatbuilding wood

Wood and Wood Products

Lignum-Vitae.com is committed to all things lignum vitae. The Lignum vitae we deal with is the "original" not the cheap imitation known as Argentine lignum vitae a.k.a. Vera wood.

Our wood is Guaiacum Coulteri, Guaiacum Sanctum, Guaiacum Official. These three species have been known and used as wood bearing material for centuries.

Lignum Vitae is the hardest, densest, heaviest hardwood on the earth. When compared to other woods on the Janka hardness scale white oak is rated at 1,000, teak is 1,350, hard maple (used as a cheaper substitute impregnated with oil) is 1,450, rosewood is 3,000 and finally Lignum Vitae is 4,500!!

Lignum Vitae has a dense homogeneous oily fiber making it the most unique industrial bearing material available. These features and qualities make it ideal for maritime and underwater applications. Other uses include toolmaking, knifemaking, clock parts, plane soles, and it was chosen by the maker of the first chronographer to win the longitude prize for its great strength and durability.

Some of the best known uses are for hydroelectric bearings, submarine and ship bearings, historic shipbuilding for deadeyes. capstan bearings, sheaves and rudder guides, marlin spikes, fids. We know of hydroelectric plants running 24/7 for over 25 continuous years on the same set of bearings and military ships using the same bearings for over 50 years!!!

Industrial applications include Sawmill guide blocks, circle saw guides, bandsaw guide blocks and wear plates.

Lignum Vitae is well known as the most “steel friendly” material actually resulting in a mirror polish when introduced to steel. Once glazed on the end grain Lignum Vitae will actually reduce the coefficient of the bearing surface resulting in gained power and efficiency.

There are many substitutes on the market for sawmill guides but lignum vitae will out last them 20-50 times.

Domestic uses include treen-ware, carving mallets, golf clubs, jewelry, polo mallets heads, rolling pins, goblets, judge gavels, bowling balls, martial arts tools, cremation urns and more. Musicians use it for guitar picks and bridge work.

As you can see Lignum vitae is the most versatile and useful wood in the world.

Lignum-Vitae.com has the largest inventory in North America and is uniquely positioned to assist with proper selection of size and grade to fit the most demanding schedule and specifications. Please e-mail, fax or call with your request.

Logs to 20 inches in diameter, Lignum Vitae timbers 14x14

Oak, pine, cherry, timbers and frames

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lignum vitae   ·    teak   ·    hard maple   ·    white oak   ·    cherry