We have a small amount of this material remaining. The backs and sides are not matched sets, nor are we able to provide matched sets due to the wide range of colors and figure. All the backs currently exhibit sapwood centers. Camatillo will darken with exposure to UV, so a solution might be to expose some of the wood to the sun (careful) in order to achieve a match. In any case, this material is useful for other purposes i.e. creating rosettes, headplates, inlay, etc.
The wood has a deep, rich purple color with numerous black ink lines. It is sometimes known as ’Mexican Kingwood’ and is a true Rosewood (Dalbergia Congestiflora).
Camatillo’s grain is ’on the wild side’’ -much like some of the Cocobolo and Honduran rosewood which grows in the same region. Straight grain (even on the sides) is rare, there are small, solid pin knots -and once again, the wood is purple!! The black ink lines are dramatic and the majority of the back sets have clean sapwood centers. If you don’t want sapwood in the center, please let us know. Tonally this wood’s tap tone is as close to quality Brazilian rosewood as we’ve come across.Though it is not quite as oily as Cocobolo, the same care should be used when gluing. Bending the sides is not especially difficult even though the grain is swirly. Reports are that the purple color does not oxidize immediately (though this has not be substantiated).
Problems with Camatillo:
1) No two sets are alike. If you are in love with the set you got recently and want another “just like it”, or if you want a set just like the one in the photo here, we probably can not help you. This wood varies tremendously from set to set.
2) It cracks. If you see cracks in the wood upon receiving your package, please call us immediately about a return. If we see cracks developing we glue them with cyanoacrylate which wicks into the cracks and stops the crack from spreading. You may see some evidence of this glue at the edge of the boards you receive. Take extra care storing the wood and working with it. Once the wood is braced, bent and glued up it is fairly stable for a dense wood.
3) Availability. We have heard that this is an endangered wood, but hard data on it is hard to find. If we discover that the wood is not being harvested in an ethical manner then we will discontinue it. Even if we discover that it is plentiful, there may be difficulties getting good material, so the long term availability is in question.
