Wood Species Guide
Ceylon Ebony
Diospyros ebenum
Also called: Sri Lankan Ebony, East Indian Ebony, Ebony (the original ebony of trade)
What Ceylon Ebony looks like
The heartwood is a deep, nearly uniform black, sometimes with faint gray or brown streaks. The sapwood is pale and sharply separated from the black core.
Grain and texture
Grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with a very fine, even texture. It polishes to a soft, glassy shine with almost no visible pores.
Working Ceylon Ebony: planing, cutting and gluing
Dense and hard on edges, so keep blades sharp and take light cuts. It can check while drying, so blanks are usually sold sealed. Gluing works best on freshly cut surfaces wiped with acetone. It turns and carves beautifully.
Finishing Ceylon Ebony: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Most people sand to a high grit and buff it with wax or a thin oil, since a heavy film hides the luster. Wipe with acetone before epoxy or a film finish so the natural oils don't slow the cure. Black sanding dust will stain light woods and clear or white fills, so clean up before you move on.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
The black heartwood holds up well against rot. It is used almost entirely in small indoor pieces, where Florida humidity matters mainly as a cause of small checks; keep blanks sealed until you use them.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Ceylon ebony is the ebony that gave the name its reputation, and today it is rare in the trade. Think inlay, knobs, pen blanks, fingerboard stock and small turnings rather than lumber. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it. For most projects, gaboon or Macassar ebony is easier to find.
Common uses for Ceylon Ebony
Inlay, piano keys, instrument fingerboards and fittings, carving, chess pieces and turned objects.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices (the CITES ebony listing covers only Madagascar Diospyros populations). The IUCN lists it as Data Deficient. India and Sri Lanka restrict its export because of past overharvesting.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Ebony dust is reported to irritate skin, eyes and airways, and some people become sensitized over time. Severe reactions are uncommon.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask or respirator 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.
Like other ebonies, it can irritate the skin, eyes and airways, and it is reported as a sensitizer in some people. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Ceylon Ebony in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Ceylon Ebony listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
Similar woods: Ebonies
- Gaboon EbonyDiospyros crassiflora Gaboon ebony is the benchmark for true black wood: dense, fine and glossy. It is pricey and comes...
- KataloxSwartzia cubensis Katalox is a near-black Central American hardwood that is extremely hard and heavy. It makes a strong, affordable...
- Macassar EbonyDiospyros celebica Macassar ebony trades solid black for bold stripes of black and caramel. It is extremely dense and costly,...
- Pale Moon EbonyDiospyros malabarica (syn. D. embryopteris, D. peregrina) Pale moon ebony is a Southeast Asian ebony with cream and jet-black streaks instead of solid black. It...
- PersimmonDiospyros virginiana American persimmon is a very hard, pale wood from the ebony family that grows wild across Florida. It...