Tambotie Blanks and Turning Blocks for Sale - ProSono Hardwoods

Tambotie Blanks and Turning Blocks for Sale

Tambotie Blanks and Turning Blocks for Sale

Tambotie (Spirostachys africana) – or African cocobolo – is a hardwood species native to southern Africa, particularly found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The hardwood is prized for its durability, strength and unique appearance.

One of the most notable features of tambotie is its striking colouration, which can range from light yellow to dark reddish-brown, often with darker streaks running through the grain.

Tambotie Blanks and Turning Blocks for Sale
A piece of freshly cut tambotie, showing its beautiful grain.

Uses of tambotie hardwood

The wood’s natural beauty, combined with its resilience, make it a popular choice for turned items, fine furniture and decorative woodwork.

Once properly seasoned, the hardwood works well, holds fine details and finishes beautifully. It’s also exceptionally hard. These characteristics make it ideal for the production of turned and carved items, such as intricate sculptures, pens, bowls, handles and tool grips.

Tambotie can be used for acoustic guitar back and sides, as well as bindings.

A guitar headstock made from tambotie.
A guitar headstock made from tambotie.

The heartwood of tambotie is also known for its high resistance to termites and decay, adding to its longevity in parquet wood flooring and outdoor applications.

A beautiful choice for turned items

For some images of beautiful turned items made from tambotie, we recommend visiting the following links:

A tambotie bowl
A tambotie bowl by TurningbyDesign.

Other names for tambotie

Tambotie is sometimes called African cocobolo. This is because it’s similar in appearance, colour and characteristics to the prized cocobolo hardwood from South America.

Alternative spellings of tambotie include tamboti, tambootie and tambuti. In Mozambique, the wood is called sandalo.

You may also hear tambotie referred to as Cape or African sandalwood. However, it isn’t related to Indian sandalwood, which is the source of the sandalwood oil used in perfumes and incense.

African cocobolo guitar headstock.
African cocobolo guitar headstock.

Sustainability of tambotie

Tambotie isn’t considered endangered and isn’t listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Like many of Africa’s natural resources, however, it is subject to the modern pressures of overexploitation and habitat destruction. Efforts are being made to ensure that this valuable hardwood is sourced responsibly, with an emphasis on sustainable forestry practices and conservation of the species’ habitat.

For details about ProSono’s approach to sustainability, please see our Certifications: CITES page.

What to know about working with tambotie hardwood

Tambotie works well on the lathe and with a chisel. It has a hardness of 2,200 lbf (10,000 N) on the Janka scale.

Tambotie has an oily sap that can make it difficult to glue. When freshly cut, it releases a toxic latex that can trigger allergic reactions. Eye protection and masks should be worn when working with it.

A knife handle made from tambotie.
A knife handle made from tambotie.

This also means that tambotie isn’t a food-safe wood. It shouldn’t be used for kitchen utensils or in woodwind instruments.

However, it’s safe and exceptionally durable for use in making a diverse array of items that don’t have direct contact with the mouth – from knife handles, bowls, chairs or tables through to guitars.

Supplier of tambotie blanks and turning blocks

At ProSono, we offer perfectly seasoned tambotie blanks and turning blocks for sale. These are cut to required dimensions and can be shipped to any location, within South Africa or internationally. Visit our tambotie page to learn more.

Subject to availability, we also offer tambotie project lumber in the following dimensions:

  • thickness 30, 45, 60 or 80 mm
  • width 150 to 250 mm
  • length 600, 900, 1,200, 1,500, 1,800 or 2,000 mm.

To order tambotie blanks and turning blocks or to discuss your project needs and hardwood preferences, please speak to us at ProSono. Contact us online, or WhatsApp or call us on (Int) +2782 652 0747.

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