Exotic Hardwood for Turners

High-quality hardwood for turning

ProSono is a leading supplier of exotic and rare woods for turners. We also work closely with importers and distributors of exotic woods, across all five continents.

We offer pen blanks, turning squares, spindles and bowl blanks in a range of beautiful African hardwoods. See the tables below for the dimensions of parts we endeavour to keep in stock.

The precious hardwoods we supply are responsibly harvested, seasoned, and cut to standard dimensions. Our turners wood is prime quality:

They are characterized by the absence of open and large knot, discolouration, and of course of slit and crack. Both ends are sealed with quality wax without bubble that guarantees the absence of end crack. Our parts are sawn with panel saws that guarantee mm precision on both ends of the parts. 15% of sapwood and bird eye knots are allowed.

We know from experience that customers did use our turners wood for their instrument making.

Sometimes, what would count as a defect in a musical part is exactly what adds unique character and appeal to a turned item.

Hardwood species

wild olive and black chacate axes made by turners

“This wood is absolutely beautiful, and it’s good to have taken a good number of it. Indeed, the shade a little variable and that leaves a nice choice for tinkering! I can thus mix for my friends. There is a “wavy” piece, what a wonder! Perfect for everything, a purchase that I really don’t regret at all. I will recommend you.”

~ Christophe PICOD, Turner

Turning squares dimensions

TURNING SQUARES
in inches	in mm	in dm3	Common turnery items
3/4 x 3/4 x 6	20 x 20 x 152	0.062	Fountain pens, pegs violin, viola, furniture inlays
1 x 1 x 6	26 x 26 x 150	0.098	Chess figures
1 x 1 x 12	26 x 26 x 305	0.197	Rulers, Inlays, Weaving needles
11/2 x 11/2 x 3	38 x 38 x 75	0.108	Solid cutlery handle, pegs for viola and cello, chess pawn
11/2 x 11/2 x 6	38 x 38 x 150	0.217	Candle sticks, daggers
11/2 x 11/2 x 12	38 x 38 x 310	0.442	Church candle holders
11/2 x 11/2 x 15	38 x 38 x 385	0.556	*Chanters
11/2 x 11/2 x 16	38 x 38 x 410	0.590	Lamp foot
11/2 x 11/2 x 18	38 x 38 x 457	0.660	US billiard cues
11/2 x 11/2 x 24	38 x 38 x 610	0.881	Russian billiard cues, picture frames
2 x 2 x 4	51 x 51 x 100	0.262	Doorknobs, serviette rings, pegs double bass
2 x 2 x 6	51 x 51 x 150	0.393	Door handles, mid-size pepper mills
2 x 2 x 8	51 x 51 x 205	0.513	Chess figures
2 x 2 x 12	51 x 51 x 310	0.775	Lamp stands
2 x 2 x 18	51 x 51 x 457	1.143	Lamp stands
3 x 3 x 12	76 x 76 x 300	1.770	Stool legs
3 x 3 x 18	76 x 76 x 457	2.640	Table legs, pepper mills
4 x 4 x 12	100 x 100 x 300	3.150	Large pepper mills
4 x 4 x 18	100 x 100 x 457	4.57	Table legs

Bowl blanks dimensions

BOWL BLANKS
in inches	in mm	in dm3	Common turnery items
4 x 4 x 2	100 x 100 x 50	0.500	Coasters
5 x 5 x 2	125 x 125 x 50	0.819	Coasters
5 x 5 x 3	125 x 125 x 75	1.229	Salad bowls
6 x 6 x 2	150 x 150 x 50	1.180	Salad bowls, lamp foot
6 x 6 x 3	150 x 150 x 76	1.770	Salad bowls, smoking pipes
8 x 8 x 2	200 x 200 x 50	2.098	Jewellery boxes, cigar boxes
8 x 8 x 3	200 x 200 x 76	3.146	Music boxes, fruit bowls
10 x 10 x 2	250 x 250 x 50	3.125	Clock faces, fruit bowls

Features and uses of our exotic and rare woods

ProSono supplies ten hardwood species that are indigenous to Southern Africa.

Each hardwood has unique characteristics that make it suited to turnery applications. Our range of rare exotic woods also enables unique colour combinations.

Pink ivory uses:

Pink ivory (also called red ivory) wood is sought after by turners the world over for its striking pink to red colouring.

Ideal for turning, pink ivory is commonly used to make jewellery, inlays and marquetry, pens and fountain pens, luxury holders, chess pieces, tool handles, billiard cues, jewelry boxes, music and cigar boxes, decorative fruits, salad bowls, pepper mills, knife handles and more.

African olive wood uses:

Wild olive (also called African olive) wood is characterized by its dark, strongly marked, and tortuous grain.

It is an ideal wood for modern and antique carvings, the turning of pen and fountain pen blanks, paper cutters, candle sticks, smoking pipes, coasters for bottle and water jars, jewellery and cigar boxes and grandfather clock faces.

Tambotie/African cocobolo uses:

Tambotie, also called African cocobolo, wood has a distinctive darkish brown colour and a lasting pleasant smell. It is appreciated for its glossy finish after polishing.

This wood is commonly used for small furniture, painting and picture frames, knife handles, fruit bowls and decorative fruits.

African blackwood uses:

African blackwood is extremely stable, dense, and rigid, even in extreme climatic conditions. It is free of porosity and black only after polishing.

This wood is widely used for musical instruments and instrument components.

It is also successfully used to create pens and fountain pens, billiard cues, doorknobs, and handles, cutlery handles, pistol grip and gunstock and tips, inlays and marquetry work, rosaries and church items, carvings, and sculptures.

Mopane wood uses:

Available in large spindles and bowl blanks, mopane has outstanding stability and high density, as well as attractive, warm colouring.

It is suitable for smoking pipes, tool handles, table feet, balustrades, shepherd walking sticks, vessels, dishes and decorative fruits.

Black chacate uses:

Black chacate wood (also called small fake mopane) is a slightly dark greenish and streaked wood, attractive for large turning work. It reminds some of our customers of palo santo (lignum vitae) wood from South America.

This wood is available in large spindles and bowl blanks. It has been used successfully for large bells for woodwind instruments and for flutes, and for impressive guitar back and sides. It is also used for tool handles and weapon crosses, knife handles, billiard cues and other turned items.

Leadwood uses:

Leadwood is available in large spindles and bowl blanks.

Its high density, stability, distinctive grey colouring, and glossy finish make it suitable for table feet, balustrades, dishes, knife handles, smoking pipes, pepper mills and cutlery handles.

Camel thorn uses:

Camel thorn is a beautiful wood. Its distinctive light red colour is appreciated for bowl blanks, pepper mills, knife handles, pens and fountain pens and jewellery boxes.

Snake bean uses:

Snake bean wood turns and glue well. It is widely used in turners’ and joinery work. It can be high gloss varnished. It is commonly used for pen and fountain pens, knife, and cutlery handles.

Other African hardwood species:

The investigation of new species suitable for turning is a slow and staged process. It is dependent on several factors, such as:

the availability of concession and annual cutting permits from the relevant authorities.
the availability of sufficient quantity and quality of wood in the concession.
opinions expressed by our leading partners regarding the potential of each individual species in their national markets.

At present, some examples of African hardwoods under investigation for broader use are: South African mulberry (Morus mesozygla), red bushwillow (Combretum apicolatum) and jackal berry (Diospyros mespiliformis).

Our exotic hardwood for sale:

South African residents can visit our showroom, where a wide range of exotic woods are displayed as pen blanks, turnery squares, spindles, and bowl blanks. They can select from our treasure bins in which substantial volume of non-standard offcuts are kept.

Our foreign customers can order combo packs of 10 and 20 kilos. They contain non-standard blocs and squares of the very same species. These are irregular shaped, irregular colours and grain that some consider sub-standard but others like carvers find of great value for their tinkering and work of art.

Alternatively, let us know your requirements and we’ll work with you to find the best hardwood for your needs.