COMMON NAMES:   African blackwood, Mozambique ebony, mpingo

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   1.2

DENSITY:  75 - 83 lbs./cu.ft.

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:

RADIAL MOVEMENT:

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   7.6%

DURABILITY1:   Very Good

SOURCE:  East Africa

DESCRIPTION:   African blackwood is a dark colored wood that appears black due to the many black streaks that run through it. It is a very hard, heavy and dense wood with a generally straight grain. It is difficult to work due to its resistance to cutting edges, and it gives an extreme blunting effect. Necessary to use a stellite or tungsten carbide-tipped saw. Tends to rise on cutters during machining. Slightly oily texture. Excellent to finish. Blackwood is used for woodwind and other musical instruments, ornamental turnery, figure carving, walking sticks, knife handles, brushbacks, pulley blocks, bearings and slides, and inlays.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.