 Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens)
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Common Name(s): Bloodwood, Satine
Scientific Name: Brosimum rubescens (syn. B. paraense) Distribution: Tropical South America Tree Size: 80-150 ft (25-45 m) tall, 4-7 ft (120-210 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 75 lbs/ft3 (1,195 kg/m3) Hardness: 3,635 lbf (16,170 N)* *Estimated hardness based on specific gravity Rupture Strength: 21,600 lbf/in2 (148,900 kPa) Elastic Strength: 2,360,000 lbf/in2 (16,300 MPa) Crushing Strength: 13,340 lbf/in2 (92.0 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.3%, Volumetric: 11%, T/R Ratio: 1.6 |
Color/Appearance: A bright, vivid red. Color can darken to a darker brownish red over time with exposure to light and air. Applying a thick protective finish, and keeping the wood out of direct sunlight can help minimize this color shift.
Grain/Pore: Has a fine texture with small pores. Grain is usually straight or slightly wavy.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small-medium pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses and other mineral deposits common; growth rings indistinct; rays visible without lens; parenchyma aliform (winged), confluent, and in short tangential bands.
Durability: Reported to be very durable, and resistant to most insect attack as well.
Workability: Bloodwood is extremely dense, and has a pronounced blunting effect on cutters; beyond that, it turns, finishes and glues well. The wood tends to be brittle and can splinter easily while being worked.
Scent: Has a mild scent when being worked.
Safety: The wood’s dust has been reported as occasionally causing effects such as thirst and salivation, as well as nausea. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability: Though it is considered an exotic tropical hardwood, Bloodwood’s price is fairly moderate. It should be cheaper than most rosewoods, but cost slightly more than other colorful imports like Padauk or Purpleheart.
Comments: It’s no wonder that Bloodwood has grown so popular as an imported wood species, as it is exceptionally hard, durable, strong, and beautiful. It is used for both trim and accents, as well as larger structural elements in furniture, etc.
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Bloodwood (sanded) |
 Bloodwood (sealed) |
 Bloodwood (endgrain) |
 Bloodwood (endgrain 10x) |
July 18th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
Bloodwood can often times have a very strong odor and can sometimes cause skin reactions. Take care when sanding it.
March 6th, 2012 at 9:09 am
bloodwood is very hard an heavy.
difficult to carve, but a great color.