Wood Species Guide
Pau Ferro
Machaerium scleroxylon
Also called: Morado, Bolivian Rosewood, Santos Rosewood, Caviuna
About the name “Pau Ferro”
The rosewood names are trade names; pau ferro is not a true Dalbergia rosewood. In Brazil, pau ferro is also the name of Libidibia ferrea, a different tree.
What Pau Ferro looks like
Ranges from medium brown to dark chocolate with purple, orange or reddish tones and darker streaking. The look is close to a true rosewood, and it tends to darken with age.
Grain and texture
Grain is usually straight but sometimes interlocked, with a fine to medium texture and a good natural luster.
Working Pau Ferro: planing, cutting and gluing
Works more easily than you would expect for its hardness, and it machines to a crisp edge. It does dull blades moderately. Interlocked areas can tear out, so keep tools sharp. It glues well on fresh surfaces.
Finishing Pau Ferro: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Finishes well under oil, lacquer or shellac and polishes to a nice sheen. With epoxy, keep the dark dust out of any light-colored resin and apply a thin seal coat before a deep pour.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated very durable against decay, but it is susceptible to insect attack. It is a stable wood once seasoned, which is part of why builders use it for fingerboards.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Pau ferro is the go-to rosewood look-alike without the rosewood permit headaches, since it is not a Dalbergia. It's mostly sold as lumber, blanks and fingerboards rather than slabs. Use it for inlays, accent strips in a glue-up, pens and small boxes. Mask up when sanding, because it is a known sensitizer. Ask us if you need it and we'll check our sources.
Common uses for Pau Ferro
Guitar fingerboards and bridges, instrument parts, cabinetry, inlay, turned objects, flooring and veneer.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. It is not a true rosewood (it is not a Dalbergia), so the Dalbergia listing does not apply.
Safety and toxicity
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Pau ferro contains a strong sensitizer from the same family found in true rosewoods, and allergic skin reactions are common among woodworkers. Once sensitized, small exposures can set off a rash.
- In the shop
- Dust extraction + respirator + gloves + 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.
A known sensitizer. It contains the same irritating compound family found in true rosewoods, and eye and skin irritation are commonly reported. Use dust collection, a respirator and gloves if you are sensitive.
Pau Ferro in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Pau Ferro 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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