 Gaboon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora)
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Common Name(s): Gaboon Ebony, African Ebony, Nigerian Ebony, Cameroon Ebony Scientific Name: Diospyros crassiflora Distribution: Equatorial West Africa Tree Size: 50-60 ft (15-18 m) tall, 2 ft (.6 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 65 lbs/ft3 (1,035 kg/m3) Hardness: 3,220 lbf (14,320 N) Rupture Strength: 24,300 lbf/in2 (167,600 kPa) Elastic Strength: 2,494,000 lbf/in2 (17,200 MPa) Crushing Strength: 12,980 lbf/in2 (89.5 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 6.5%, Tangential: 9.0%, Volumetric: 15.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.4 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually jet-black, with little to no variation or visible grain. Occasionally dark brown or grayish-brown streaks may be present.
Grain/Pore: Very fine pores and fine texture. The grain is usually straight but can also be interlocked.
Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; small-medium pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; black mineral deposits present; growth rings indistinct; rays not visible without lens; parenchyma reticulate/banded, possibly marginal, apotracheal parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates, paratracheal parenchyma vasicentric.
Durability: Ebony is rated as being very durable, with good resistance to termites and other insects.
Workability: Due to the high oil content found in this wood, it can occasionally cause problems with gluing. Can be difficult to work due to its extremely high density. Has a dulling effect on cutters. Tearout may occur on pieces that have interlocked or irregular grain. Takes finishes well, and finishes to a high luster.
Scent: Ebony has a mild, slightly unpleasant odor when being worked.
Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Ebony in the Diospyros genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability: Gaboon Ebony is among the most expensive of all available lumbers: usually about two to three times more expensive than most species of Rosewood. The small size of the tree, and its high demand for ornamental work may contribute to its seemingly outlandish price.
There’s no mistaking Gaboon Ebony as there are few woods that are deep and solid black (unless dyed), and even most species in the Diospyros genus aren’t black. Other types of ebony include: Macassar (striped) Ebony, and Black and White Ebony. African Blackwood is very similar in density, color, and (unfortunately) cost, but is technically in the Dalbergia genus and isn’t considered a true ebony. Wenge and Katalox are two woods that are sometimes used as an ebony substitute.
Ebony is commonly used for small ornamental purposes, such as piano keys, musical instrument parts, pool cues, carvings, and other small specialty items. The wood is exceptionally dense, strong, and stiff, though it is considered to have moderate to poor stability through seasonal changes.
Scans/Pictures: I’ve included only one picture of Gaboon Ebony in its unfinished and sanded state. The wood is virtually jet black, and only gets darker when a finish is applied. Also, for the endgrain zoom, I’ve slightly modified the brightness of the image to help show the details of the pores and parenchyma.
Due to its high density, you can also view a video showing how Ebony sinks in water.
A special thanks to Steve Earis for providing the turned photo of this wood species.
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Gaboon Ebony (sanded) |
 Gaboon Ebony (endgrain 10x) |
 Gaboon Ebony (turned) |
September 5th, 2011 at 11:47 am
a better natual finish would be hard to find, just remember that the wood is murder on your hand tools, and you must go slow with the power saws. the smell from the dust can be nasty, it feels like you have swallowed soap.
September 11th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Jake is totally right about this expensive wood — Gaboon Ebony.