Cocobolo

Cocobolo is a highly prized tropical hardwood from Central America, renowned for its dramatic reddish-brown heartwood with darker streaks, vibrant natural figure, and fine texture. Celebrated for its density, stability, and luxurious luster, Cocobolo is a favorite among artisans for high-end woodworking and decorative projects.

Its straight to interlocked grain allows Cocobolo to machine, turn, and sand to a flawless finish, bringing out its rich, exotic colors. Perfect for pen blanks, knife handles, turned objects, inlays, musical instruments, and small luxury furniture accents, Cocobolo combines visual drama with exceptional performance.

Botanical Information

Scientific Name: Dalbergia retusa

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua)

Common & Trade Names

Cocobolo, Dalbergia retusa, Central American Rosewood, Dalbergia

Key Characteristics

Heartwood: rich reddish-brown with dark streaks

Sapwood: pale, narrow, clearly defined

Grain: straight to interlocked

Texture: fine, dense, smooth finish

Extremely dense, hard, and durable

Naturally glossy when polished

Workability

Very dense and hard; requires sharp tools

Machines, sands, and turns carefully

Accepts oils, stains, and finishes beautifully

Glues and polishes reliably

Ideal for precision and decorative projects

Health & Safety Note

Cocobolo wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. Use proper dust extraction, respirator, and eye protection when machining or sanding this very dense hardwood.

Cocobolo wood, Dalbergia retusa, Central American hardwood, exotic hardwood blanks, pen blank wood, knife handle wood, turning wood, decorative hardwood, artisan craft wood, luxury wood