East Indian Rosewood - Dalbergia latifolia - grows in Tropical America, Southeast Asia, and Madagascar.
Heartwood of East Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. The wood darkens with age, usually becoming a deep brown. It has as a distinct, rose-like scent when being worked.
East Indian Rosewood is a true rosewood and and is prized for both veneers and hardwoods, this specie is found in many Asian antiques.
As with other members of the dalbergia family, East Indian rosewood is very dense and will yield a soft satin finish.
East Indian Rosewood can be difficult to work with tools because of its interlocked grain and density. The wood can sometimes contain chalky deposits that will rapidly dull cutting edges. Glues and finishes well, though color from the wood’s natural resins can inadvertently bleed onto surrounding surfaces when applying a finish, so care must be taken on the initial seal coats.
Heartwood of East Indian Rosewood can vary from a golden brown to a deep purplish brown, with darker brown streaks. The wood darkens with age, usually becoming a deep brown. It has as a distinct, rose-like scent when being worked.
East Indian Rosewood is a true rosewood and and is prized for both veneers and hardwoods, this specie is found in many Asian antiques.
As with other members of the dalbergia family, East Indian rosewood is very dense and will yield a soft satin finish.
East Indian Rosewood can be difficult to work with tools because of its interlocked grain and density. The wood can sometimes contain chalky deposits that will rapidly dull cutting edges. Glues and finishes well, though color from the wood’s natural resins can inadvertently bleed onto surrounding surfaces when applying a finish, so care must be taken on the initial seal coats.