Pernambuco

This wood, also called Brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata) is now very rare and in the near future will be unavailable, most likely for many years. Do not confuse it with Chakte viga (caesalpinia platyloba), a similar more common wood that has somewhat different properties and color.

What is the difference between Pernambuco and Chakte viga as the two are often confused, even by vendors? First of all, it is no longer clear if they are even related to each other. Chakte Viga is a different species and has some different qualities. While Pernambuco is the world’s best wood for violin bows, Chakte Viga is not. Chakte Viga is a nice wood though, and works well. Pernambuco has a finer grain and also usually a deeper color that goes all the way through the wood plus a higher specific gravity, making it the heavier of the two and it polishes better. Pernambuco dust is used for a dye for clothing and yarn, as the color is more intense.

Chakte Viga often looks almost white when you cut into it and then it recovers its color especially when exposed to sunlight. Pernambuco also reacts to sunlight, but much less so. Pernambuco does not have the very light almost white color when you cut below the surface, which is the best way to tell them apart. It is possible to mix up the two, but if you see the really light color when you cut into an orange wood, it is very likely to be Chakte Viga and not Pernambuco. Also if the wood is wet, it is almost certainly Chakte Viga because the newest Pernambuco legally imported into the USA is likely over 20 years old and even if waxed it would have dried a very long time ago.