Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionAfrican Blackwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
African Blackwood is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameDalbergia melanoxylon
Janka hardness3,670 lbf
Average dried weight79 lb/ft³
Best fitMusical instruments (guitars
Overview
Why choose African Blackwood?
African Blackwood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Dry savanna regions of central and southern Africa. It is useful when the project calls for musical instruments (guitars, clarinets, oboes, etc.), inlay, carving, tool handles, and other turned objects
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameDalbergia melanoxylon
DistributionDry savanna regions of central and southern Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 2.9%, Tangential: 4.8%, Volumetric: 7.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.7 More images | Identification
DurabilityHeartwood is rated as very durable in regards to decay resistance, though only moderately resistant to insects/borers.
African Blackwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect often completely black, with little or no discernible grain. Occasionally slightly lighter, with a dark brown or purplish hue.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is typically straight; fine, even texture and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, very difficult to work with hand or machine tools, with an extreme blunting effect on cutters. African blackwood is most often used in turned objects, where it is considered to be among the very finest of all turning woods—capable of holding threads and other intricate details well.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, African blackwood has been reported as a sensitizer .
African Blackwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for African Blackwood
Best projects
Musical instruments (guitars, clarinets, oboes, etc.), inlay, carving, tool handles, and other turned objects
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying African Blackwood from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
African Blackwood FAQ
What is African Blackwood best used for?
African Blackwood is best considered for musical instruments (guitars, clarinets, oboes, etc.), inlay, carving, tool handles, and other turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is African Blackwood beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell African Blackwood?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.