Provenance and Availability
– Cocobolo is yielded by closely related species of the genus Dalbergia.
– The best known species is Dalbergia retusa, reaching a height of 75-80ft and a diameter of 3ft.
– The trees yielding cocobolo have been heavily exploited and are now rare outside of protected areas.
– Only small amounts of cocobolo reach the world market, making it expensive.
– The wood is mainly sourced from national parks, reserves, and plantations.
Oil Content and Handling
– Cocobolo heartwood contains oil, giving it a strong floral odor and occasionally staining the hands.
– The high oil content makes it difficult to achieve strong glue joints and can inhibit the curing of some varnishes.
– Acetone can be used to remove surface oils before gluing.
– Inhaling or exposure to unprotected skin and eyes can induce allergic reactions due to allergenic chemicals present in cocobolo.
– A dust collection system and personal protective equipment are recommended when machining cocobolo.
Uses
– Cocobolo is commonly used for gun grips, knife handles, and duck calls due to its resistance to water and repeated handling.
– It is hard, fine-textured, and dense, making it suitable for fine inlay work on cue sticks, pens, bowls, and other specialty items.
– The abundance of natural oils in cocobolo can clog abrasives and saw blades.
– It is favored for custom barrel joints of B-flat clarinets and is also used in making fingerboards, necks, and bodies of guitars and bass guitars.
– Cocobolo is used to some extent in drum building.
Musical Instruments
– Cocobolo’s density and hardness allow it to produce a clear musical tone when struck.
– It is used to make oboes, flutes, clarinets, and bagpipes.
– Cocobolo has been successfully used as a substitute for African blackwood in bagpipes and chanters.
– It is also used for fingerboards, necks, and bodies of guitars and bass guitars.
– The warm and rich palette of cocobolo makes it a popular choice for musical instruments.
Conservation Measures
– Guatemalan populations of cocobolo have been listed under CITES Appendix III since 2008.
– Panama extended the listing to include all cocobolo products except seeds, pollen, and finished products ready for retail trade.
– As of January 2, 2017, cocobolo is protected as a CITES Appendix II species.
– Other species in the Dalbergia genus, such as African blackwood and rosewoods, are also protected.
– Conservation measures are in place to regulate the trade and protect cocobolo populations. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocobolo
Cocobolo is a tropical hardwood of Central American trees belonging to the genus Dalbergia. Only the heartwood of cocobolo is used; it is usually orange or reddish-brown, often with darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. The heartwood changes color after being cut and can be polished to a lustrous, glassy finish; being quite dense, sometimes having a specific gravity of over 1.0, it will sink in water. The sapwood (not often used) is a creamy yellow, with a sharp boundary between it and the heartwood.
