Bhilwara Wood Uses, Properties, Advantages, and Disadvantages
Bhilwara (Albizia odoratissima) is a plant that grows in several Asian countries, such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, etc.
Now, this plant has distribution in other areas, that’s East Africa. This plant can grow up to100 feet tall, with 2-3 feet diameter. At about 3 feet/year, it’s a fast-growing plant and is one of the top nitrogen fixers.
Albizia odoratissima has dark brown to black hardwood with irregular black grains. The wood is good for furniture, tool handles, turned objects, and veneer.
What is bhilwara wood?
Bhilwara wood is also known as Ceylon rosewood, is the wood of the Albizia odoratissima plant. Attractive dark brown to black, irregular black grain figured, has no characteristic odor, coarse texture, and natural luster.
This is a fairly easy wood to work, although things like tear-out can happen. Bhilwara is known to be not as durable against rot, but dry wood is resistant to termites.
Prices for Bhilwara are in the mid to upper range, with various sizes available. Furniture can be made from this wood; turned objects, veneers, and tool handles can be selected.
The properties of bhilwara wood
It has an attractive appearance, although the grains are irregular and less varied. The dark brown may not be good enough for some things, but in our opinion, it’s good for some furniture.
No characteristic odor, even during working. The most significant disadvantage is that it’s not resistant to rot. This is a significant problem.
We wouldn’t choose it for extensive cabinetry; you should choose another wood such as afrormosia. But maybe suitable for small furniture. In addition, its resistance to termites is an advantage.
This seems to be a solution for damaged cabinets due to termites. Lastly, the natural luster looks quite attractive.
Bhilwara wood advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Easy to work: Bhilwara is considered relatively easy to work, Applies to both hand tools and machines.
It seems like it contains silica. So it can have a blunt effect on your devices.
Another problem is the interlocking grain. Be careful with this because it can cause a tear-out during surface working.
There are no other significant problems. You can glue, turns, and finishes well. Make small things as an experiment.
But, be careful with the health risks that may occur. Bhilwara wood reported that there was such a problem. We’ll tell you later.
Availability: The IUCN reports it as the species of least concern.
It proves that the population is still significant. Albasia odoratissima is also reported can grow up to 3 feet/year.
Maybe that was a reason the availability is still a lot. You can do a lot of things with this.
Make furniture for sale, or use it yourself. It seems like making turned objects is pretty good for business.
The market favors unique and attractive decorative items. This is an excellent opportunity. However, Bhilwara wood cannot be exported to North America.
Disadvantages
Not durable: This is a quite significant shortcoming. Bhilwara wood is not resistant to rot.
So you have to think again about choosing this wood. It seems that it is better to select lumber that is proven to be durable for some furniture.
In addition, Bhilwara wood still has advantages, and it’s resistant to termites.
So even if cabinets, tables, chairs, or other things are placed in a termite-prone place, it’s good enough.
We recommend that you choose another lumber if you don’t like this shortcoming.
Mid to upper price: We don’t know the reason this wood is not cheap.
Although we think the population is still large. Bhilwara wood price range is mid to upper.
We’ve also checked prices on websites that sell the wood, and they seem quite expensive for a turning square.
It may be more expensive if you buy a large size, such as to make a cabinet or table.
So, we think it’s better to buy it in finished goods.
Health risk: Bhilwara has health risks you should consider.
Bhilwara can cause digestive irritation, although severe reactions are rare.
We think this is a pretty important thing. Because maybe you have a problem with it.
There are no reports of when the irritation occurred, apparently during the working process.
So, make sure to use equipment that meets health standards when working.
Masks and coveralls seem to have to be used. You can use a machine to simplify and speed up the process.
Bhilwara wood for furniture
Cabinetry: Bhilwara wood is good for a closet, although we think several reasons are not good. His resistance to termites is a significant advantage.
You can put it in place for a long time without fear of eating by termites. However, you must be careful about rot because Bhilwara is considered not resistant to it. You can handle it with a few tricks to make durable wood.
Tables: It seems pretty good to have a Bhilwara wooden table. The dark brown with black grain looks good for the dining table. Moreover, this wood is also quite easy to work with.
You can also make a small table in front of the house to put a cup of tea. Resistance to rot doesn’t seem to be a problem. Regular tables are cheap, and it’s quite easy to make a simple table.
Chairs: After the table, then make a chair. Because the table without a chair feels useless, make 2 chairs to sit on the side of the table. It was a coffee place and reading the newspaper.
Same as the reason is like a table, and we think the look of this wood is ideal for being used as a chair. The resistance to rot is not a problem. Simple furniture like chairs seems quite easy to make.
Bhilwara wood for veneer
Bhilwara wood appearance is great for veneers. It’s indirectly a decoration if used. Its straight and irregular black grains are quite attractive for this.
However, be careful about tear out during the process. That might happen. Bhilwara veneer may not be in the cheap price range.
So, you should prepare more money if you want to buy it. Making it yourself is quite possible if you have the skills and equipment to make one.
Using this can make your furniture more attractive.
Bhilwara wood for tool handles
Hardwood is great for tool handles; it can hold tools. It’s a good idea if you use Bhilwara wood for your tool handles. Knives, saws, hammers, or other tool handles can be made from this wood.
It seems you don’t need to buy a handle. Because you can do it yourself. Making handles does seem easy. Buy a few pieces of Bhilwara lumber.
Then create an interesting handle design, work on it, and attach it to the tools. Design customization is an advantage when making it yourself.
Bhilwara wood for turned objects
Bhilwara wood sold at cookwoods.com is square for turning purposes. So, it seems like this wood is good enough for that. Highly figured can make turned objects more attractive.
But, be careful with some problems that might occur. Try to create some turned objects. You can make a small one as an experiment.
After that, it might be time to make a bigger one. Making decorations is the right choice. It might be a wooden humidifier, a lamp holder, a wall hanging, or something else.
Bhilwara wood in Summary
This wood is great for some objects, and we recommend it. But you need to pay attention to not being durable to rot.
That’s a pretty significant problem, despite its termite resistance. So, it seems only good for making ordinary furniture, not luxury ones.
The look of this wood is good overall, and we quite like it. Especially in the combination of dark brown and black, accompanied by black grains.
Before, we have mentioned the recommendations for furniture, turned objects, tool handles, and veneer.
