Griffin Exotic Wood
 
 



Ebony
(diospyros spp.)


Ebony is a member of the diospyros family.  In the older trees, the wood is very black accounting for the reputation of this wood.  Colors in actual pieces vary quite a bit with at least a little brown being seen in all but our upper grades.  Truly black pieces are extremely rare now. Ebony can vary somewhat in density.  Variances from .80 to 1.16 are possible. What today is called ebony is probably not the wood called by the Egyptians and in the Bible as ebony.  It seems that african blackwood was the wood they were referring to.  Ebony is darker however. 

Ebony grading system:  (Based on EXTERNAL appearances--generally the inside is the same but not always)
Grade B: Black/brown wood with noticeable lines that are contrasty dark tan/brown, and are usually not hidden without dyeing.  Dye is cheaper than dark wood!
Grade A:  Black wood with some dark brown or grey zones or areas, that SOMETIMES disappear through normal finishing or dyeing but usually WILL NOT.
Grade A PLUS: Black wood with occasional tiny brown areas (or sometimes AA grade in most areas but A in some others) that are noticeable when looking at the exterior of the bare wood
Grade AA: Very black wood that is almost all black on external surfaces even before finishing, though different people have different opinions of what black is so look at pictures before buying. Very occasional tiny off color areas allowed if overall very good black.
Grade AAA: Wood that is black as coal, very rare now--we haven't had a new piece like this in years and encourage you to be skeptical if someone says they have perfect black wood to sell. We have investigated claims like that and have so far always found them to be false unless it is a tiny piece of wood (with the exception of a very few pieces of Madagascar Ebony). Some vendors take A or B grade wood and cover it in thick wax to make it appear they have AAA grade, we grade based on the bare wood color, which is completely different and based on our commitment to honesty.
Kiln-dried:  Each size that is kiln-dried is specifically marked.  Those not marked kiln-dried== are not kiln-dried but might be completely air dried, see description.


NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE THE USA--NOW A RESTRICTED SPECIES IF the item is marked with a *


 


SIZES ARE IN INCHES
unless specified otherwise.

 





































































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Looking for Madagascar Ebony?  See bottom of this page


Ebony pen blank 

B grade New!
Price: $1.50
Qty: 


Ebony pen blank
A PLUS grade, 3/4 square by 5-5.25 inches long
Price: $5.50
Qty: 


Ebony AA grade pen blank
This is old stock, comes from old trees that are generally not available anymore.

Premium, darkest black!, 3/4 inch square by 5-6 inches long
Price: $8.80
Qty: 


Ebony pen blank (Jumbo)
A to A+ grade, 7/8 square by 5-6 inches long
Price: $5.50
Qty: 




 Kiln-dried/Air dried ebony (very hard to get)
Note: We only claim "dried" for wood below 12% moisture content. (Each kiln-dried item says kd or kiln-dried on the item, air dried items say AD or air dried or are labeled dried.)
This section also now includes pieces that are air dried and have been measured with a properly programmed moisture meter,
confirming the moisture level is 12% or below. Be aware that normal moisture meters cannot measure woods this dense
and WILL give false readings. Our readings have been properly taken. Air dried is the best way to dry ebony. The reason is that kiln drying can cause internal checks that cannot be seen until you have cut into the wood. That is a rare problem though, but we have seen it in some pieces that were kiln dried (maybe 2% of the time).



This photo shows this ebony with a coat of shellac. AIR DRIED COMPLETELY. (under 12%) See All four pics below of the bare wood sides of these pieces (this is what other vendors don't show--they only show the wood after finishing because that darkens it). Note that the grading system is based on us looking at the wood when it is completely bare wood, not finished. These are shown bare wood with no wax or finish to hide the grain. We want you to see the actual piece you are buying, but finishing can make even A grade look close to all black. All pieces ARE dry (for real) of course. Note that ebony is a little bit more brittle then some woods, and just because it is dry does not mean it won't crack if you get it super hot sanding it (if you cannot comfortably put your hand on it--then is too hot) or by hitting it with a hard object like a hammer, or dropping it on a cement floor. NOTES: Piece 53 has some tiny pin holes, price reduced but they can be filled with superglue.


PLEASE READ THE GRADING SYSTEM AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF A, A+, AA ETC. If two grades are shown, it is in between those two grades. When two grades are shown, the one that is closest to correct is listed first.
Pieces missing below have sold.

No surprises: ALL four sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a first side view.
Click here for a second side view.
Click here for a THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

Ebony Piece 1
1.25 x 1.5 x 6 5/8 inches
A+ grade
dried to 12% or less

Price: $24.00

Ebony Piece 7
1 3/8 x 1.5 x 5 7/8 inches
A grade
dried to 12% or less

Price: $17.00

Ebony Piece 11
1 x 1.5 x 4 inches
AA grade
dried to 12% or less

Price: $16.00


This photo shows this ebony with a coat of shellac. AIR DRIED COMPLETELY. (under 12%) See All four pics below of the bare wood sides of these pieces (this is what other vendors don't show--they only show the wood after finishing because that darkens it). Note that the grading system is based on us looking at the wood when it is completely bare wood, not finished. These are shown bare wood with no wax or finish to hide the grain. We want you to see the actual piece you are buying, but finishing can make even A grade look close to all black. All pieces ARE dry (for real) of course. Note that ebony is a little bit more brittle then some woods, and just because it is dry does not mean it won't crack if you get it super hot sanding it (if you cannot comfortably put your hand on it--then is way too hot) or by hitting it with a hard object like a hammer, or dropping it on a cement floor.


PLEASE READ THE GRADING SYSTEM AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF A, A+, AA ETC. If two grades are shown, it is in between those two grades. When two grades are shown, the one that is closest to correct is listed first.
Pieces missing below have sold.

No surprises: ALL four sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a first side view.
Click here for a second side view.
Click here for a THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

Ebony Piece 35
1.25 x 1 3/8 x 9.5 inches
AA grade
dried to 12% or less

Price: $42.00






MADAGASCAR EBONY (RARE)

Diospyros perreiri

not able to be shipped out of the USA due to CITES restrictions


* Means this item cannot be shipped outside the USA due to international trade regulations. Items NOT marked with a * are OK to ship outside the USA

Side 1 shown finished above. 

Pieces are shown bare wood below, partially sanded in the pictures below.  This is what other vendors won't show you.
Madagascar Ebony, Diospyros perreiri, is considered to be the one of best types of ebony in existence.
The grain is incredibly fine, and sanding is a dream. Specific gravity well over 1.0. and weighs about 67 pounds a cubic foot dried.

All are dried with a moisture level between 9 and 11% .  Harvested in the 1990's, no new trees are cut down to replace these!

By far the best type of ebony you can buy, but it is rarely seen on the market at all anymore and I have never seen it sold like this where the buyer can see the bare wood and real color before buying.   

No surprises: ALL sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a FIRST side view of BARE wood.
Click here for SECOND side view.
Click here for  THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

NOTE: Pieces missing below or that give an out of stock notice in the shopping cart are SOLD
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 70*
7/8 x 7/8 x 4.5 inches
DRIED
Grade AA/A+

Price: $12.00

Side 1 shown finished above. 

Pieces are shown bare wood, partially sanded in the pictures below.  This is what other vendors don't show you.
Madagascar Ebony, Diospyros perreiri, is considered to be the one of best types of ebony in existence.
The grain is incredibly fine, and sanding is a dream. Specific gravity well over 1.0. and weighs about 67 pounds a cubic foot dried.

All are dried with a moisture level between 9 and 11%

By far the best type of ebony you can buy, but it is rarely seen on the market at all anymore and I have never seen it sold like this where the buyer can see the bare wood and real color before buying. 

No surprises: ALL sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a FIRST side view of BARE wood.
Click here for SECOND side view.
Click here for  THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

NOTE: Pieces missing below or that give an out of stock notice in the shopping cart are SOLD
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 72*
1 3/8+ x 2.25 x 6 inches
DRIED
Grade AA (& gg figure)

Price: $79.00
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 73*
1 3/8+ x 2 5/16 x 4.75 inches
DRIED
Grade AA (& gg figure)

Price: $64.00
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 78*
1 7/16 x 1 15/16 x 4 1/8 inches
DRIED
Grade AA

Price: $45.00
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 79*
1.5 x 1.75 x 3.25 inches
DRIED
Grade AA

Price: $32.00

Side 1 shown finished above.  Grades shown in photo.

Pieces are shown bare wood, partially sanded in the pictures below.  This is what other vendors don't show you.
Madagascar Ebony, Diospyros perreiri, is considered to be the one of best types of ebony in existence.
The grain is incredibly fine, and sanding is a dream. Specific gravity well over 1.0. and weighs about 67 pounds a cubic foot dried.

All are dried with a moisture level between 9 and 11%

By far the best type of ebony you can buy, but it is rarely seen on the market at all anymore and I have never seen it sold like this where the buyer can see the bare wood and real color before buying. 

No surprises: ALL sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a FIRST side view of BARE wood.
Click here for SECOND side view.
Click here for  THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

NOTE: Pieces missing below or that give an out of stock notice in the shopping cart are SOLD
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 35*
1 7/8 x 1 7/8 x 3 3/8 inches
DRIED
Grade AA/A+

Price: $37.00

Side 1 shown finished above.  Grades shown in photo. 

 Mostly NON square pieces (knife blanks, etc)

Pieces are shown bare wood, partially sanded in the pictures below.  This is what other vendors don't show you.
Madagascar Ebony, Diospyros perreiri, is considered to be the one of best types of ebony in existence.
The grain is incredibly fine, and sanding is a dream. Specific gravity well over 1.0. and weighs about 67 pounds a cubic foot dried.

All are dried with a moisture level between 9 and 11%

By far the best type of ebony you can buy, but it is rarely seen on the market at all anymore and I have never seen it sold like this where the buyer can see the bare wood and real color before buying. 

No surprises: ALL sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a FIRST side view of BARE wood.
Click here for SECOND side view.
Click here for  THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

NOTE: Pieces missing below or that give an out of stock notice in the shopping cart are SOLD
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 47*
1 x 1.5 x 2 15/16 inches
DRIED
Grade AA

Price: $16.50

Side 1 shown finished above.  Grades shown in photo.

Pieces are shown bare wood, partially sanded in the pictures below.  This is what other vendors don't show you.
Madagascar Ebony, Diospyros perreiri, is considered to be the one of best types of ebony in existence.
The grain is incredibly fine, and sanding is a dream. Specific gravity well over 1.0. and weighs about 67 pounds a cubic foot dried.

All are dried with a moisture level between 9 and 11%

By far the best type of ebony you can buy, but it is rarely seen on the market at all anymore and I have never seen it sold like this where the buyer can see the bare wood and real color before buying. 

No surprises: ALL sides of BARE WOOD visible in photos:
Click here for a FIRST side view of BARE wood.
Click here for SECOND side view.
Click here for  THIRD side view.
Click here for FOURTH side view.

NOTE: Pieces missing below or that give an out of stock notice in the shopping cart are SOLD
Madagascar Ebony
Piece 54*
1 x 1 3/8 x 6 inches
DRIED
Grade A+

Price: $18.00



* Means this item cannot be shipped outside the USA due to international trade regulations. Items not marked with a * are OK to ship outside the USA


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