OUR MATERIALS || EXOTIC HARDWOOD || PAU FERRO WOOD
PAU FERRO WOOD
Alternative Names & Variations: Santos Rosewood, Bolivian Rosewood, Morado
Color: Reddish/Orange to Dark Violet/Brown, with Contrasting Black Streaks
Hardness: Hard
Sustainability Status: Very Sustainable / Stable Species Population
Characteristics: Pau Ferro wood enchants with its vibrant color palette and durability. The wood, hailing mainly from Brazil and Bolivia, boasts hues from reddish/orange to dark violet/brown, often adorned with distinctive black streaks. Its sapwood, in pale yellow, gracefully contrasts the heartwood. Craftsmen cherish Pau Ferro wood for its exceptional durability, making it an enduring choice for veneer, cabinetry, and flooring.
Pau Ferro wood’s fine texture and natural luster enhance its appeal in musical instruments, particularly for guitar components, providing warm and stable tones reminiscent of Ebony and Indian Rosewood. While Pau Ferro wood exhibits fair workability, requiring careful tool handling to avoid blunting, it rewards with a high lustrous finish. Attention to drying conditions is vital, as the wood, with slow drying tendencies, may crack if not treated with care.
STRENGTHS
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Pau Ferro wood's rich color variations and striking black streaks provide outstanding contrasts, enhancing the visual appeal of crafted items.
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Pau Ferro wood is rated as very durable, ensuring longevity in various applications.
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Popular in the music industry, especially for guitar components, Pau Ferro wood offers warm, stable, and brilliant sonic properties, comparable to Macassar Ebony and Rosewood.
WEAKNESSES
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Pau Ferro wood is considered of fair workability, but it can blunt cutting edges due to its density, requiring careful tool maintenance.
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Pau Ferro’s initial vibrant colors may fade over time with exposure to UV light, requiring awareness in projects where color retention is crucial.
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Some may exhibit allergies to Pau Ferro wood oils and wood dust.
PAU FERRO WOOD ALTERNATIVES
ROSEWOOD
MACASSAR EBONY WOOD
WENGE WOOD