Latin Name:Guibourtia demeusei
Grows in Central Africa, chiefly from Cameroon, Gabon and Zaire

Color: Medium red/brown with lighter red to purple veining.
Properties: Moderately course but even textured very dense hardwood with straight or interlocked grain. In some logs the grain is very irregular. This wavy interlocking grain produces a wrinkled, blotchy figure known as mottle. These logs are often cut into veneer called kevasingo.

Bubinga is often referred to as African Rosewood and it has many similar qualities to East Indian or Brazilian Rosewood. Although not regarded quite as precious, Bubinga has become a favorite to high end furniture makers because of it's availability, reasonable cost and rich appearance. The wood is easily worked both by machine and hand tools, sands nicely, is easier to glue than most rosewoods and can be brought to an excellent finish.
Although working Bubinga can have a severe blunting effect on cutting edges, it is still regarded as an excellent turning and carving wood. Besides being used for high quality furniture in both the solid and veneer form, the rotary cut kevasingo is also commonly used for cabinets and paneling.

Michael Ciardelli