Bubinga
Guibourtia spp.
Hardness
Very hard; tough on tools but extremely wear-resistant.
Overview
A dense, richly figured African hardwood used for high-end furniture, tabletops, and electric guitar tops.
Commonly built
- Guitar tops
- Tabletops
- Turned bowls
- Knife handles
Appearance
Pinkish to reddish-brown with darker purple streaks; figured boards show waterfall or pommele grain.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Dense and can dull cutters; natural oils sometimes slow glue and finish cure. Pre-drill for screws or fasteners.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn bubinga panel moves roughly 0.46 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Bubinga move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Bubinga?
Bubinga has a Janka hardness of 2410 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Bubinga suitable for outdoor use?
Bubinga is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Bubinga to work with?
Bubinga has Fair workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Bubinga move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn bubinga panel moves roughly 0.46 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used bubinga, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.