Wood Information -

The purpose is to tell you a little about the woods that are under consideration for smaller projects like Pens and Gavels..

Snakewood -   a truly exotic species, and probably one of the most difficult species to find. It grows erratically in South America
Typically, it is a very small tree, and only show the wonderful figure in a small quantity of the wood, and then rarely evenly spread across the entire face of the board. The jagged black blotches do resemble the skin of a snake, thus getting its name. When it is bought, by the pound, still can't use the whole piece.  What can I say... It's my favorite.

Ebony -- Ebony wood is mostly black with occasional grey streaks, fine texture and a straight to wavy grain.
The wood turns well, but a little hard on tools due to its density. Takes a very high finish. It is too hard to use nails or screws without first pre-boring. The dust can be irritant. Odor and taste are not distinct.

Honduran Rosewood - Moderately fine texture.  Dark brown to a purplish color. Can be difficult to work with because of hardness. Rosewood can dull cutters quickly.  Some species of Honduras Rosewood can tend to have oils that may interfere in finishing.  Honduras Rosewood only grows in Belize. It is very rare.

Cocobolo - One of the true tropical rosewoods, Cocobolo is a very beautiful wood, ranging from a beautiful rich dark brick red, to reddish or dark brown, with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. It is fine textured and oily in look and feel. The wood has excellent working characteristics and the natural oils give the wood a natural luster. Cocobolo is highly durable and strong, but, because of its scarcity and high value, it is used for its rare beauty rather than its strength or durability. (The Gavels are made of Coco Bolo - It goes from that light to dark.  Generally they are not overly discernable until the it has been shaped - the light bands run through the wood)

Tulipwood "Dalbergia variabilis" Irregular streaks of yellow, rose and red or violet on a cream to straw colored background. The tree is small with an irregular trunk. Heartwood logs are 2-8" in diameter. The wood has a fine texture, high luster, and takes a high polish. Hard and heavy. Somewhat difficult to work.

Bog Oak - 5,000 year old oak taken out of Irish Bogs. - Black with silvery streaks.