Bolivian Rosewood Cutting Boards: Worth The Hype?

Bolivian Rosewood is a beautiful and unique wood that can add a touch of exotic elegance to any kitchen. But is it a good choice for a cutting board? This paragraph will explore the characteristics of Bolivian Rosewood and discuss its suitability for this specific purpose.

Bolivian Rosewood, also known as Morado, is a highly decorative hardwood native to South America. It is known for its rich, dark brown colour and dense, hard texture. While it shares similarities with true rosewoods, it belongs to the Machaerium genus, specifically Machaerium scleroxylon. One of the key considerations when choosing wood for a cutting board is its hardness, and Bolivian Rosewood certainly scores high in this regard. However, its natural oils and hardness can also be a drawback, making it difficult to glue and finish.

So, is Bolivian Rosewood a good choice for a cutting board? While it may be harder than optimal, its natural oils and hardness can make it more challenging to work with and maintain. Additionally, the wood's potential toxicity and environmental concerns, such as habitat destruction and deforestation, should also be taken into account. Ultimately, while Bolivian Rosewood may be visually appealing, there may be more suitable and sustainable options available for cutting boards.

Bolivian Rosewood is hard and dense, making it good for precision work

Bolivian Rosewood, also known as Morado, is a highly decorative, dark, dense hardwood. It is harder and denser than American hard maple, which is one of the traditional hardwoods recommended for cutting boards. This density and hardness make it good for precision work.

Bolivian Rosewood is harder to cut than some other woods, but it slices well on a table saw with a mid-level carbide-tipped blade without burning or chipping. It also routes and planes well, although it puts some wear on the cutters. This means that, although it is hard, it is not too hard to work with.

The density of Bolivian Rosewood is also an advantage when it comes to gluing. It is easier to glue than other rosewoods, although gluing can still be problematic. The best approach is to glue only freshly planed or sanded surfaces. It is also important to glue up joints immediately after cutting, and not to wait overnight.

Bolivian Rosewood is a good choice for cutting boards as it is durable and resistant to knife marks and deep cuts. It is also similar in appearance to the revered but endangered Brazilian Rosewood. However, it is important to note that rosewood is not considered food-safe due to the natural oils found in the wood, which can seep out and get into food.

It is heavy, hard and difficult to glue

Bolivian Rosewood, also known as Morado, is a heavy, hard and difficult-to-glue wood. It is a dense hardwood, which means that it is hard to glue and requires special treatment.

Bolivian Rosewood is harder and denser than American hard maple, which is known for its durability. This density and hardness make it challenging to work with, especially when it comes to gluing. The wood's natural oils can interfere with the gluing process, making it difficult to achieve a strong bond.

To successfully glue Bolivian Rosewood, it is recommended to glue freshly planed or sanded surfaces. Additionally, gluing the joints immediately after cutting is crucial, as waiting overnight can affect the gluing process. If waiting is unavoidable, wiping the joints with acetone before gluing is essential.

While regular wood glue can be used, following these guidelines is vital to ensure a secure bond. The difficulty in gluing Bolivian Rosewood is a significant consideration when choosing this wood for projects that require adhesion, such as laminated cutting boards.

In addition to gluing challenges, the natural oils in Bolivian Rosewood can also interfere with finishing. Oil finishes, such as tung oil or boiled linseed oil, may not cure properly on this wood. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to use dewaxed shellac as a sealer coat before applying other finishes.

While Bolivian Rosewood presents some challenges in gluing and finishing due to its natural oils and density, it is a beautiful and unique wood that can elevate the look of projects like cutting boards. However, its heavy and hard nature, along with the gluing difficulties, are important factors to consider when deciding whether to use this wood for specific projects.

It is not a true Rosewood, but shares many of its characteristics

Bolivian Rosewood, also known as Morado, is not a true Rosewood, but it shares many of its characteristics. It is a highly decorative, dark, dense hardwood that resembles the impossible-to-get Brazilian Rosewood or the super-rare Indian Rosewood. Bolivian Rosewood is sourced from several certified sustainable forestry operations in parts of South America.

Bolivian Rosewood is harder and denser than American Hard Maple, making it surprisingly easy to work with. It slices well on a table saw with a mid-level carbide-tipped blade without burning or chipping. It also routes and planes well, although it does put some wear on the cutters. Its density and hardness make it ideal for cutting and shaping for precision work.

The colour of the wood varies from board to board, ranging from violet streaks to coffee browns and black. As the name "rosewood" suggests, the wood offers a lot of variety, and some boards are darker than others. However, the colours blend in much better than the raw boards look once a finish is applied.

Bolivian Rosewood, like Rosewood, has a kiss of natural oil in it, which can conflict with wood glue and some wood finishes. To avoid this, it is recommended to glue up joints after cutting them and to use acetone to wipe the joints if you need to wait overnight or longer before gluing. Regular wood glue is fine as long as these rules are followed.

Bolivian Rosewood is often used for acoustic and electric guitars, high-end veneers for corporate jets, and jewellery boxes, among other things. It glues better and is less expensive than other true rosewoods, making it a popular choice for woodworking projects.

It is a protected species, with restrictions placed on its logging trade

Rosewood is a protected species, with restrictions placed on its logging trade. Since 2016, the Convention on the Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) has placed restrictions on the logging and trade of this timber. This means that it can be difficult to obtain rosewood, and it may be prohibited to trade without the correct documentation.

Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra) is a CITES I endangered species, and its commercial trade is prohibited unless the provenance of the wood pre-dates its CITES listing. Even then, there is a significant amount of paperwork to complete. The trade of Brazilian Rosewood was banned around the year 2000 due to its listing as a CITES section III endangered species. This listing makes it illegal to cross national borders with the wood or products made from it.

Other types of rosewood, such as Bolivian Rosewood, are also protected. Bolivian Rosewood is not a true rosewood, but it shares many characteristics with true rosewoods, including colour, working properties, and density. It is also known as Pau Ferro, Santos Rosewood, Morado, and others. Bolivian Rosewood is sourced from certified sustainable forestry operations in parts of South America.

It is not food-safe, as its natural oils can seep out and get into food

Bolivian Rosewood, also known as Morado, shares many characteristics with true rosewoods, including their colours, working properties, and density. However, it is not a true rosewood as its scientific name does not contain Dalbergia. Instead, it is a Macherium sp. with the botanical name Machaerium scleroxylon.

Bolivian Rosewood is a naturally oily wood. While its natural oils protect it from water damage and rot, they also seep out of the wood, especially if its surface is nicked by a knife. These oils are not food-safe, and using a Bolivian Rosewood cutting board risks getting these oils into your food.

In addition to its natural oils, Bolivian Rosewood also contains other extractives that can interfere with gluing and finishing. Gluing freshly planed or sanded surfaces and using acetone immediately before gluing can help address these issues.

Bolivian Rosewood is also very hard, with a Janka rating of 1780 lbf, which is higher than the optimal range of 900-1500 lbf for cutting board wood. This hardness will quickly dull your knives and other food preparation utensils.

For these reasons, while Bolivian Rosewood is a beautiful and prized wood, it is not a good choice for a cutting board.

Frequently asked questions