English
Amboyna burl is a highly prized exotic hardwood known for its rich reddish-brown colour, intricate grain patterns and distinctive swirling figures. Harvested from the narra tree (Pterocarpus indicus), native to Southeast Asia, Amboyna burl can range from golden brown to deep red, often featuring tightly clustered eyes and dramatic grain patterns. These blocks contain some sapwood.
Its exceptional figure makes it a popular choice for woodturning projects where the natural beauty of the wood can take centre stage. Amboyna burl is particularly well suited for custom salt and pepper mills, kitchen accessories, decorative handles and other small turning projects. Each piece has its own unique colour and grain, making every finished project one of a kind.
What are the dimensions of this block?
Each block measures approximately 2" square × 6" long (51 × 51 × 152 mm), offering plenty of material for kitchen kits, salt and pepper mills or other handle projects. Each blank is selected at random and may vary in colour, grain and figure from the image shown. The photo is representative only.
What is burl?
Burl is an unusual growth on a tree that produces highly irregular grain rather than the straighter grain found in typical lumber. When cut, it can reveal tight swirls, eyes and complex figuring, which makes burl especially popular for decorative woodworking and turned projects such as pens.
What is sapwood?
Sapwood is the younger, outer layer of wood found just beneath a tree's bark. It carries water and nutrients through the tree and is usually lighter in colour than the darker heartwood at the centre. In woods like Amboyna burl, the contrast between pale sapwood and rich reddish-brown heartwood can create striking natural patterns in a finished project.
How should I finish Amboyna burl?
For best results, sand progressively using Abranet or sanding mesh, followed by Micro Mesh. Use a cyanoacrylate glue finish followed by a plastic polish. Friction polishes like Doctor's Wood Shop, Mylands, Aussie Oil or Shellawax products will also give you a durable, high gloss finish.
Oil-only or wax-only finishes are not recommended for Amboyna burl, as they tend to mute colour contrast and do not provide the durability expected for a high-end, everyday-use pen.
Fun facts about Amboyna burl:
Amboyna burl gets its name from Ambon, an island in Indonesia historically associated with the trade of this exotic wood. The wood comes from the narra tree, which is also the national tree of the Philippines.
Its distinctive appearance has made Amboyna burl a sought-after material for decorative woodworking and other projects where the grain and figure can take centre stage. The unusual grain patterns of burl make the wood especially desirable for decorative woodworking, fine furniture and custom projects where the natural figure is the main attraction.
Price per block in Canadian dollars.
Français
