Katalox Wood Uses, Properties, Advantages, and Disadvantages
What is Katalox wood?
Katalox wood is also known as Mexican ebony, is an exotic wood of good quality.
Katalox trees are 100-130 feet tall, trunk diameter 2-4 feet, and their distribution in Southern Mexico, northern South America, and Central America.
It’s a wood that is generally very durable against decay. Not only very durable but also known as very strong wood.
For this reason, the general use of this wood is quite a lot, and it can even be used as fine furniture. This is also one of the woods for fine furniture with mid to upper prices.
The properties of katalox wood
Katalox heartwood is dark reddish-brown to almost black. In comparison, the sapwood is pale yellowish-white. Katalox grains are usually straight, although some are interlocked and irregular.
This wood also has a smooth texture and good natural luster. In resistance to decay, katalox is generally considered to be very durable.
High resistance of heartwood applies to termites, although vulnerable to sea borers. However, this is a complicated wood to work on, and it seems like you have to be a pro to perform it well.
It’s also solid wood and one of the strongest in the world.
Katalox wood advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
Generally very durable: You shouldn’t have any doubts about the resistance of katalox to rot, as they are usually very durable.
Even katalox heartwood is considered to have high resistance to termites and decay.
However, it is susceptible to marine borers. It seems like you could use this wood for long-term and large wooden objects.
Due to its good durability, katalox may be suitable for outdoor use. Insects may think further before nesting in it; moreover, this is one of the strongest woods.
It seems like it can last a dozen to decades, although minor damage may occur.
Availability: Although this is quite an exotic wood, there is still plenty of katalox available.
This result was proven by the absence of katalox in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and CITES Appendices.
This is sufficient to prove that there is no significant reduction in the katalox, not endangered, vulnerable, or otherwise.
It seems like you can still use this wood in large quantities. The wood color is unique and quite different from the others, is also an attraction.
It seems like you’ll have to make some wooden items from the katalox because it might become rare later on.
Appearance: We also put the appearance into excess because it’s quite attractive. While you might think that the katalox appearance is plain and unexotic, even less appealing, we don’t think so.
Not all katalox has a unique grain figured, and they are suitable for many things.
However, if you choose the right katalox with the proper use, you will see a work of art of high value.
Its dark color may attract fewer people, but they forget that this wood seems like it can be finished without being painted with its natural luster.
Disadvantages
Difficult to work: It’s a high-density wood, which is why working a katalox is usually considered challenging.
Not only that, but it also has a moderate to high blunt effect on the cutter. It would help if you also were careful of the tearing that can occur in the interlocking grains.
Not only has a high density, but katalox also contains high oil. It can be a pain when gluing.
We think that this woodworking should be work by a professional and good quality tool with a sharp cutter because it seems that the difficulty of woodwork is not easy to overcome.
Pricing: This is wood of outstanding quality and quite exotic. But that doesn’t keep katalox prices in the upper range overall because the price range for this imported tropical hardwood is mid to upper.
The existence of this different price range maybe because there are several katalox with unique attractive appearances and are worth selling at a higher price.
However, we don’t include this in advantages. Because the price is high, it’s appropriate to enter into a disadvantage.
The availability is probably another reason the price of the katalox is not very expensive.
Katalox wood for inlays
A common use of katalox wood that you can choose is inlays.
This may be a good choice because some of the katalox have quite an attractive appearance.
However, it would be best to spend enough time choosing the best katalox wood, and it might make for a quality inlay finish.
It seems that making katalox into inlays is not an easy thing because this wood is difficult to work.
For this reason, you must have mature planning, quality equipment, and excellent abilities. If you do not do it, maybe you will get into a lot of trouble and fail.
Katalox wood for fine furniture
If you want to use katalox for more valuable items, it seems fine furniture is the right choice.
Because the availability of Katalox seems to be plentiful, there is no problem with using it in large quantities. You can use katalox for large fine furniture or some more miniature fine furniture.
It looks like this will be good enough to make your home more beautiful, no need to worry about durability, quality, and a few other things.
It’s just that you have to choose the price of the katalox you want. It seems that the more expensive katalox has better quality.
Katalox wood for cabinetry
Katalox wood is also commonly used as cabinetry, although we don’t think this is good.
Katalox wood durability is reliable for this, including the use of kitchen cabinetry. Seems like the humid air will not make this wood easy to rot.
If you choose this wood, make sure not to paint it and maintain the original look. Because we think it’s better, especially if you make it shinier.
Use for cabinetry in a room other than the kitchen is recommended, especially for storing collectibles. It seems like this would be the perfect place for that.
Katalox wood for parquet flooring
Making parquet flooring from katalox seems to be the right choice. This will be something big and can make your home more beautiful.
Make sure you choose the best katalox appearance figured that you can use. Then combine them to make your floor look beautiful.
The strength and density of this wood are reliable, as is its durability. So, you don’t need to worry about that and focus on making a perfect plan and doing the work.
Make sure to use good quality tools, especially on cutters. It seems like it could give excellent finished goods.
Katalox wood for guitars
Katalox is also commonly used as a guitar. We don’t know why because we don’t quite understand the relationship between wood and the sound it produces.
Therefore, we can only judge from an appearance perspective. We thought it was great because the dark colors would make for a pretty unique guitar.
Also, if you choose the correct figure, you might get an even better appearance. Not only that, the quality of this wood is excellent because it’s durable, solid, and hard.
It seems like it’s going to be a guitar that won’t break easily.
Katalox wood for turnings
If you want to see the beauty of the katalox from a decorative perspective, then turnings may be a good choice.
You can make some high-value turned objects to decorate and make your house more beautiful. The density of this wood may be quite a crucial problem that you can face in the process.
That can make the wood difficult to work or take a long time. But it doesn’t seem like a problem if you’re a professional and use good quality tools.
For starters, we recommend making a wooden bowl, wooden cup, or something simple.
