Cocobolo
Dalbergia retusa
Hardness
Very hard; tough on tools but extremely wear-resistant.
Overview
An extremely dense, oily rosewood prized for knife handles and turning, with a strong known allergen risk.
Commonly built
- Knife handles
- Turned pens
- Gun grips
- Small boxes
Appearance
Ranges from orange to deep red-brown with darker streaking, often with a strong, spicy odor when cut.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Natural oils resist glue, wipe surfaces with solvent before bonding. Fine dust is a well-documented skin and respiratory irritant, always use dust collection and a respirator.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn cocobolo panel moves roughly 0.21 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 Cocobolo move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Cocobolo?
Cocobolo has a Janka hardness of 2960 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Cocobolo suitable for outdoor use?
Cocobolo is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Cocobolo to work with?
Cocobolo has Difficult workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Cocobolo move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn cocobolo panel moves roughly 0.21 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Glue-up notes
Degrease joint surfaces with acetone immediately before gluing; oils otherwise cause weak bonds. Epoxy generally outperforms PVA on this species.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used cocobolo, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.