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Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
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 fitSmall specialty items
Overview
Why choose Burmese Blackwood?
Burmese Blackwood is an imported specialty hardwood. Its natural range is Southeast Asia. Common uses include small specialty items, percussion instruments, inlay, furniture, carvings and turned objects.
Scientific nameDalbergia cultrata
DistributionSoutheast Asia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.5%, Tangential: 9.2%, Volumetric: 14.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
Burmese Blackwood colour, grain, and figure
Heartwood colour is variable, spanning olive or reddish brown in medium tones to a deeper purplish brown, and often has nearly black streaks throughout. It darkens with age.
The grain can be irregular. The texture is even and medium, with very good natural luster.
Working notes
Its density can make it hard to work. Because it belongs to the Dalbergia genus, take precautions when gluing.
Serious reactions are rare, but rosewoods in the Dalbergia genus have been reported as sensitizers.
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
Common uses include small specialty items, percussion instruments, inlay, furniture, carvings and 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 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?
Common uses include small specialty items, percussion instruments, inlay, furniture, carvings and turned objects. 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?
The buying section on this page links to any Burmese Blackwood Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.