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View optionBurmese Blackwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Burmese 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 cultrata
Janka hardness3,350 lbf
Average dried weight66 lb/ft³
Best fitTurned objects
Overview
Why choose Burmese Blackwood?
Burmese Blackwood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Southeast Asia. It is useful when the project calls for turned objects, carvings, furniture, inlay, musical instruments (percussion), and small specialty wood items
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 cultrata
DistributionSoutheast Asia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.5%, Tangential: 9.2%, Volumetric: 14.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
DurabilityNo data available, though being a dense rosewood, it’s most likely very durable.
Burmese Blackwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood color is variable, and ranges from a medium olive or reddish brown to a darker purplish brown, frequently with nearly black streaks throughout. Color tends to darken with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain can be irregular. With a uniform medium texture and very good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, may be difficult to work on account of its density. Being in the Dalbergia genus, gluing precautions should be observed.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, rosewood in the Dalbergia genus has been reported as a sensitizer .
Burmese Blackwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Burmese Blackwood
Best projects
Turned objects, carvings, furniture, inlay, musical instruments (percussion), and small specialty wood items
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 Burmese 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.
Burmese Blackwood FAQ
What is Burmese Blackwood best used for?
Burmese Blackwood is best considered for turned objects, carvings, furniture, inlay, musical instruments (percussion), and small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Burmese 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 Burmese 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.