Dalbergia Stevensonii
Description:
The heartwood ranges from pinkish-brown to purplish-brown, with irregular lighter and darker bands. The grain is straight to slightly wavy, with a medium to fine texture and low to medium lustre. The sapwood, clearly demarcated form the heartwood, is pale when newly cut, darkening to yellow on exposure. The wood is much prized for its beautiful appearance.
Typical dry weight: 60 lb/ft³ (960 kg/m³)
Specific gravity: .96
Properties:
It is tougher and denser than Brazilian rosewood (D. nigra), but it is usually used for products where strength is of relatively minor importance. It is not an easy wood to work with hand tools, but works satisfactorily with machine tools. The wood has a moderate blunting effect on cutting edges and a reduced angle is recommended for planing when the grain is interlocked or wavy. Pre-boring is advised for nailing, and gluing depends on the oil content of the wood being used. It turns very well and can be brought to a good polish.
Seasoning:
The wood air-dries very slowly and is prone to splitting, but it can be kilned with little degrade. There is small movement in use.
Durability:
The heartwood is highly durable and resistant to preservative treatment, but the sapwood is not at all durable, and is permeable to preservatives.
Typical Uses:
Fine furniture and cabinetmaking, violin bows, xylophones, classical guitar bodies, fingerboards for guitars, mandolins and banjos, piano keys, organ pipes, panelling, bank and shop fittings, billiard or pool tables and turnery. Honduras rosewood is also sliced for decorative face veneers and used for marquetry.
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