WOOD SPECIES: Bolivian Rosewood
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Machaerium scleroxylon
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Pau Ferro, Caviuna, Jacaranda Pardo, Morado, Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood
TYPICAL USES: Bolivian Rosewood lumber is commonly used in veneering applications, flooring and cabinet-making, woodworking lathe turnery projects,
guitars and musical instruments and small specialty items.
SOURCES: Central America, South America
AVG BENDING STRENGTH: 18,250 psi
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 0.76
AVG WEIGHT: 54 lbs/cu.ft.
COLOR: Bolivian Rosewood coloration can vary, from red-orange to dark brown, with irregular purple-black streaks.
GRAIN: Typically Bolivian Rosewood lumber exhibits a mostly straight, undulating grain. Some stock’s grain can be somewhat irregular or interlocked.
TEXTURE: Very fine, even texture with extremely small pores.
LUSTER: Bolivian Rosewood exhibits a high, natural luster.
MOVEMENT: A moderate amount of dimensional movement is expected.
DURABILITY: Bolivian Rosewood is considered to be durable, with a high level of resistance to decay.
BLUNTING EFFECT: Works fairly well, though some blunting is noticed on cutting edges.
CUTTING RESISTANCE: Moderate resistance to sawing operations, more so with lumber possessing interlocked or irregular grain patterns.
PLANING: Bolivian Rosewood samples containing an irregular grain pattern may have a tendency to tear during planing. Sharp cutters and adjusted feed rates are recommended.
TURNING: An excellent wood choice for most woodworking lathe projects.
BORING: No reported issues.
GLUING: Oily tropical hardwoods such as Bolivian Rosewood tend to resist gluing.
NAILING: Pre-drilling is recommended for best results.
SCREWING: Pre-drilling is recommended for best results.
POLISHING: Polishes to a pleasing natural finish.
STAINING: Bolivian Rosewood finishes well. Clear, natural finishes are recommended to allow the natural beauty and color of the wood to shine through.
