Cocobolo Wood

Cocobolo wood (commonly called cocobola, tampiciran, dalbergia retusa, mexican rosewood,) is a beautiful but hard to find wood. The cocobolo tree grows in Mexico and a few other countries of central america. Cocobolo grows quickly but not very long. It also doesn't grow in groups like oak or pine does. This means the trees are few and far between. Most cocobolo trees are growing in parks and refuges protected by law. All this means that the cocobolo trees near civilization and roads have already been harvested. Not very much of this wonderful wood makes it to market and when it does, it demands top dollar!

Why cocobolo lumber is so expensive:

• It's only found in remote regions
• Often it has to be lugged several miles out of Mexico's forests by donkey, mule or by human hands!
• Special precautions must be used when cutting cocobolo logs, the wood has oils in it that induce allergic reactions if inhaled or exposed to unprotected skin and eyes.
• Each seller of cocobolo will only have a few trees . . . Therefore there's no way to buy in bulk and each of these sellers have labored extensively to bing in the lumber.

Cocobolo wood is used for carving and crafting high quality decorative wood pieces, like chess pieces or pens for executives. Only the heartwood of cocobolo has that beautiful marble look and thus is the only part that's used. Craftsmen like cocobolo so much because the cocobolo wood can be polished to a rich, glassy finish.

Some of the things commonly made with cocobolo wood are:

• Gun grips
• Knife handles
• Inlays on pool cues
• Chess pieces
• Musical instruments, especially stringed instruments.
• Decorative pens