African Ebony

Name	African Ebony (Diospyrus spp.)
Type	Hardwood.
Other Names	Includes varieties from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Kribi, Gaboon, Madagascar, and Zaire.
Sources	Grows primarily in central to southern Africa.
Appearance	Very fine texture with an indistinct grain and metallic luster. Uniformly black heartwood and yellowish white sapwood.
Physical Props	Very heavy, hard, strong, and stiff with high shock and decay resistance. Steam-bends reasonably well. Requires pre-drilling to nail or screw.
Working Props	Works with some difficulty - tends to chip and quickly dulls cutting edges. Turns well. Finishes to a naturally dark polished surface.
Uses	Used for piano keys, musical instruments, turnery, inlay, novelties, billiard cues, brush backs, and cutlery handles.