Wood Species Guide

Bloodwood

Brosimum rubescens (syn. B. paraense)

Also called: Satine, Satiné, Satine Bloodwood, Muirapiranga, Conduru

Bloodwood is a dense South American hardwood with a bright, even red that stays vivid longer than most red woods. At 2,900 lbf Janka it's one of the hardest woods we sell.
ImportHardwoodColorful Import Hardwoods
Good forOutdoor & Rot-ResistantTurning

What Bloodwood looks like

A bright, even red with a slightly cooler tone than padauk. It darkens with age and light toward a deep brownish red. The sapwood is pale and clearly separated, so cut it off for a solid color.

Grain and texture

Usually straight or a little interlocked, with a fine texture and a natural shine. Dense and smooth enough that it can look polished right off the sander.

Working Bloodwood: planing, cutting and gluing

It's very hard and dense, so it dulls blades and can burn on the table saw or router. Take light passes, use sharp carbide and keep the feed moving. Interlocked sections can tear out on the planer. It glues fine on fresh-milled surfaces, but it doesn't forgive gaps, so joints need to be accurate.

Finishing Bloodwood: oil, film finishes and epoxy

Finishes to a high gloss. The red dust will tint light woods and pale epoxy, so seal it before a pour and blow off dust before every coat. Finishes with UV inhibitors slow the darkening.

Durability, stability and Florida humidity

Rated durable against decay and it resists insects well. It's dense and fairly stable. In Florida, glue-ups with softer woods should be acclimated together so they move the same.

Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop

We carry bloodwood as lumber, and it's mostly bought for accents: cutting board stripes, inlay, pen blanks and small boxes. It's heavy and hard, so keep pieces small and plan for extra sanding time. When you pair it with maple in an end-grain board, sand the maple last or vacuum between grits so the red doesn't migrate. Feed oil-finished boards with mineral oil or a board butter like any other cutting board.

Common uses for Bloodwood

Cutting board accents, inlay, pens and turnings, knife and tool handles, small boxes and musical instrument trim.

Sustainability and CITES status

Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List.

Safety and toxicity

Our toxicity rating ModerateWhat the ratings mean
  • Skin irritation
  • Nausea or headache

The dust can irritate skin, and a few people report nausea, thirst or excess saliva. Serious reactions are uncommon.

In the shop
Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves for sensitive skin
Food contact
Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils

General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.

Dust has been reported to cause skin irritation and, less often, nausea or thirst. Wear a dust mask and keep dust collection running.

Wood toxicity and dust safety guide: every species compared

Bloodwood in stock now

Hardwood lumber in stock (1)

Want to see them in person? Book a slab & lumber visit.

Similar woods: Colorful Import Hardwoods

See the Colorful Import Hardwoods group guide

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