A question for all the species experts out there: I am currently working in Tanzania over the summer. As a hobbyist woodworker I am attracted to some of the local carvings and woods that are being used. They have a fascinating array of hardwoods here, including African Blackwood, or as they call it locally, mpingo. The translation of mpingo seems to be ebony, and the wood is, in fact, black in color. I’ve seen turning blanks and the wood is black on the inside with a white layer of sapwood surrounding it. It appears to be very dense and very hard.
I’ve read conflicting information as to whether African Blackwood, or mpingo, is actually ebony or not. Do any of you know the difference or are these two woods one and the same? Regardless, the Blackwood is a beautiful wood, and some of the carvings are really amazing so I haven’t hesitated to admire and even purchase some of them (I asked around and was assured by one of the NGOs that the wood is not poached or endangered but there are replanting projects going on – please let me know if you know otherwise!). I enjoy the craftsmanship, but I would like to know exactly what the wood is and whether or not I can accurately refer to it as ebony.
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I'm not qualified to answer the question of whether or not it's really ebony but this should set your mind at ease as to conservation.
http://www.blackwoodconservation.org/
Beautiful stuff. I have heard it called ebony also as have other species. There are some very knowledgable folks here, I have no doubt you'll have an answer soon.
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Jay, there is African Blackwood (Dalbergia Malanoxylon) which is a Rosewood.
Then there is African Ebony which is of the species Diospyrus crassiflora.
African Blackwood and Ebony are two unrelated species i.e totally different woods. So it is incorrect to refer to Dalbergia or African Blackwood as Ebony......
To the best of my knowledge Ebony does not grow in Tanzania.
Poaching?? Ofcourse it is not poached....
Thanks for the info. Sorry, "poaching" is probably not an accurate term. Illegal logging or cutting would be more accurate. I guess we're not hunting and tracking trees.
I'm curious if anyone has any experience with African Blackwood and how it might differ from ebony. It really is a beautiful wood.
AB = harder, less brittle, and takes a nice polish that is different than Ebony. Too, when both are at the same relative moisture content, Ebony is a "dry" feeling wood while AB has a nearly "oily" feel (more like Cocobolo).http://wenzloffandsons.com/saws/adix/ad_0007a.jpgAB can ruin a fine rasp, Ebony shapes much easier (except the brittle part).Take care, Mike
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