Diospyros spp., chiefly D. crassiflora
Description:
The African ebonies are normally only available in short billets of heartwood, of which D. Crassiflora is the blackest, though even this can have some grey in it. Other ebony species are liable to have black and brown striped heartwood. The wood of all these species is very dense and hard, and the grain ranges from straight to slightly interlocked, with a very fine, even texture.
Typical dry weight: 64 lb/ft³ (1030 kg/m³)
Specific gravity: 1.03
Properties:
This very dense wood has very high crushing and bending strength, with high resistance to shock loads and high stiffness. It has a good steam-bending classification. It has a severe blunting effect on cutting edges, and is hard to work with both hand and machine tools, but scrapes well. Pre-boring is required for nailing and screwing, and the wood glues well. It can be brought to an extremely good finish.
Seasoning:
Air-drying is fairly rapid and good, apart from some possible surface checking. The wood is very stable in service.
Durability:
Ebony heartwood is a very durable wood; it is highly resistant to preservative treatment, which is generally not required for the uses to which the wood is put.
Typical Uses:
A prized wood for sculpture and carving, it is also used for fine turnery, cutlery handles, door knobs, piano and organ keys, bagpipe chanters, fingerboards and other parts for stringed instruments, inlay and banding. Traditional uses include parallel rules and cylindrical rulers.
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