Replies

1. 
   bjpearce | Aug 25, 2003 10:20am | #1

   MarkH

   I don't know about availability, but some of my favorites are Mopane (brownish in colour, very hard, polishes beautifuly), Padauk (deep red in colour, hard, some small examples can be found on this page http://www.gtcreations.com/engagement.html ), Utile, African Mahogany, Sapele.

   I don't know if this helps, but you at least have some names to thow around.

   Ben.

2. 
   SparrowHawk | Aug 25, 2003 12:46pm | #2

   Hello Mark,

   Here's a page with various African woods and their working characteristics. I like Zebrawood for contrast in boxes - unfortunately I am allergic to it but I still use it sparingly.

   http://www.woodworkerssource.net/Merchant3/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WS&Category_Code=A

   Be safe,
   Ken

3. 
   jonsherryl | Aug 25, 2003 05:58pm | #3

   Mark, you've got some great choices among African timbers. Zebrawood has already been mentioned, but quartersawn sapele (a mahogany with fabulous ribbon striped figure) would be another. African blackwood (a rosewood often used as a substitute for ebony) would also be nice.

   I don't know what your skill level is, but if you're up to doing any inlay work, pink ivory would be a terrific accent wood. This species has religious significance among the Zulus of South Africa. It is coral pink in color and so pretty it is used for some jewelry applications; beads, etc. It's scarce and expensive, but you wouldn't need much.

   A couple of other good choices might be: bubinga or African padauk...if you have difficulty finding some of these rarer species...Or, if in your search, you come up with another choice, post what you've decided on. I'm sure somebody here on Knots will have had experience with whatever you find.

4. 
   konrad | Aug 25, 2003 09:54pm | #4

   Hi Mark,

   I would second African Blackwood and maybe do some detailing with some pink ivory. Both are highly prized African woods and are wonderful to work with. They are a bit pricy, but given how little you need migh not be too bad.

   Cheers, Konrad

1. 
   MHargrove | Aug 26, 2003 12:14am | #5

   Thanks everybody!

   Now -- off to try to find sources for some of these.  I 'spose I'll start with woodfinder.com.

   -M.

1. 
   Kevin | Aug 26, 2003 01:01am | #6

   Here's another good site that lists a lot of woods and has pictures too. I found it this morning while trying to find info on so-called "Royal Mahogany."

   http://www.wflooring.com/Technical_Info/Species_Tech_Info/indiv_specie_sheets.htm

   Regards,

   Kevin

2. 
   gecko | Aug 26, 2003 02:41am | #7

   I think I would go with a box made entirely from ebony. Bubinga is pretty nice too, and you can even get figured bubinga.

   http://www.forloversofwood.com/ <---good prices, and a pretty wide selection.

3. 
   WayneL5 | Aug 26, 2003 05:43am | #8

   The only african wood I've worked with is zebrawood.  It has a tendency to splinter and chip out easily.  I had a lot of difficulty planing it, and never could do it successfully.  But it sands really nicely and finishes up nicely.  It has open pores, something like oak.

   I've used some zebrawood veneer which had the cool property of chatoyancy, that is, the luster or sparkle changed as you tilted it in different directions, but the solid zebrawood I used did not do this.

5. 
   patricks13 | Aug 26, 2003 10:31am | #9

   Be sure to wear a quality dust mask while cutting and sanding most woods from Africa.