Macassar Ebony

Macassar Ebony (Diospyros celebica)

Common Name(s): Macassar Ebony Scientific Name: Diospyros celebica Distribution: Southeast Asia (named for the port city Makassar on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi) Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20m) tall, 1.5 ft (.4 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 69 lbs/ft3 (1,110 kg/m3) Basic Specific Gravity: .89 Hardness: 3,178 lbf (14,140 N)* *Estimated hardness based on specific gravity Bending Strength: No data available Elasticity: No data available Shrinkage: No data available

Color/Appearance: Has a dramatic striped appearance, somewhat similar to Zebrawood. Light to reddish brown body with darker brown or black stripes.

Grain/Pore: Has a very fine texture and small pores. The grain is usually straight, but can sometimes be interlocked.

Durability: Heartwood is rated as very durable in resistance to fungi decay, though it is reported to be susceptible to insect attack.

Workability: Tends to be rather difficult to work, due to its high density, blunting effect on cutters, and its occasionally interlocked grain. The wood is also prone to checking and splitting during drying, and drying defects are not uncommon. The wood is excellent for turnery.

Smell: Macassar 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, and Macassar Ebony has been specifically reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Likely to be extremely expensive, along with most other Ebony members in the Diospyros genus. The tree grows slowly, has a very limited natural habitat, and is highly desired for the wood’s aesthetic appeal and toughness. Macassar Ebony is not listed as an endangered species, but is still considered to be at-risk.

Comments: There’s not much mechanical data available on Macassar Ebony, but judging from its weight, and the properties of other species such as Diospyros crassiflora, this wood is likely to be exceptionally hard, heavy, and strong.

Occasionally made into veneer, it’s also used as high-end cabinetry, billiard cues, musical instruments, and other small specialty items.

Related Species:

• Gaboon Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora)

Scans/Pictures:

Macassar Ebony (sanded)

Macassar Ebony (sealed)