Wood Species Guide
Honduran Rosewood
Dalbergia stevensonii
Also called: Belize Rosewood
What Honduran Rosewood looks like
Pinkish brown to purple-brown with darker, almost black bands. The colors deepen over time.
Grain and texture
Grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with a medium texture and a good natural luster.
Working Honduran Rosewood: planing, cutting and gluing
Dense and somewhat oily, so it dulls tools and can give glue joints trouble. Wipe joints with acetone right before glue-up. It turns well and is a favored tonewood for marimba and xylophone bars.
Finishing Honduran Rosewood: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Polishes to a high natural shine with just buffing. The oils can slow or block some finishes from curing, so test first and seal with dewaxed shellac or wipe with acetone before oil-based finishes or epoxy.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Very durable against decay and quite stable once seasoned. For Florida use, keep finished pieces indoors and out of direct sun to slow color change.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Honduran rosewood is a premium tonewood and accent wood, and supply is limited. Most of what moves legally now is small stock for instruments and turnings. Every Dalbergia is CITES listed, so any order needs proper paperwork. We don't stock it, but if you have a project in mind, ask us.
Common uses for Honduran Rosewood
Marimba and xylophone bars, guitar parts, fine furniture accents, veneer and turned objects.
Sustainability and CITES status
Listed in CITES Appendix II, along with all Dalbergia species. Commercial trade requires CITES permits.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
A true rosewood and a known sensitizer. It can irritate skin, eyes and airways, and reactions often get stronger with repeat exposure.
- In the shop
- Full precautions: dust extraction, respirator, gloves and long sleeves
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Reported as a sensitizer that can irritate skin, eyes and breathing. Use dust collection, a respirator and gloves if you react to rosewoods.
Honduran Rosewood in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Honduran Rosewood 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.
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