Bloodwood
Color Range
Color Profile: The heartwood is a vivid, bright red, occasionally featuring lighter yellowish streaks. Unlike Padauk, which can fade rapidly, bloodwood is better at color retention but will still naturally darken to a deeper brownish or purplish-red over time with light exposure.
Grain
Typically straight or slightly interlocked, it becomes glass-like when polished.
Texture
It possesses a fine, even texture and a natural luster that is highly chatoyant (iridescent), giving it a satiny, 3D appearance when finished.
Other Names
Other names here.
Typical Uses
Decorative Accents: Widely used for inlays, fine furniture details, and high-end cabinetry to provide a pop of natural color. Small Goods: Ideal for woodturning (pens, bowls, knife handles) and decorative boxes. Musical Instruments: Favored for guitar fretboards, bridges, and acoustic guitar backs and sides due to its resonance and density. High-Traffic Surfaces: Occasionally used for luxury flooring and stair components because of its extreme wear resistance.
Weight
4.5
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lbs /Bd. Ft. | 25.70% heavier than red oak (3.58 /bd. ft.)
Hardness
2900
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Janka Rating | 124.81% harder than red oak (1290 psi)
Density
0.69
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Specific Gravity | 7.81% more dense than red oak (.64)
Strength, Stability, and Durability
It is highly resistant to rot, decay, and insect attacks.
Workability / Finishing
Tool Challenges: Its extreme density has a major blunting effect on cutting tools, necessitating sharp carbide blades and frequent resharpening. Splinter Hazard: The wood is brittle and tends to splinter into sharp, glass-like shards that can easily cause infection. Instability: Bloodwood often holds significant internal tension, making it prone to twisting or warping; it is most stable when used in small pieces or as an accent. Finishing Tips: To maintain its vivid red color, woodworkers often use UV-inhibiting finishes or water-based topcoats. Because it is naturally oily, wiping the surface with acetone before gluing is recommended.