The Wargaming Woodworker

Technically pronounced "when-gii or when-ghay," wenge is famous for its coffee-black wood.  It's not the true jet black of ebony, but it also isn't $150-200 a board foot.  Wenge is an incredibly dense and stable wood native to Africa.  It finishes to a beautiful near-black color.  It does have some issues with chipping (much like other dense woods).  I currently have a large board in stock that I've been saving for the perfect project (or commission).

This is definitely the most expensive of the exotic woods I currently have in stock.  It is, however, arguably the most beauitful.  Bolivian Rosewood has a characteristic richness to the wood.  It is darker than walnut but features streaks of warm, caramel browns, oranges, blacks, and even dark reds that give it a truly distinctive and unique appearance.  It takes finish very well and is great to work with despite being a hardwood.  I used this to make a customer's tray as well as for my own personal tray.

Zebrawood is a rather unique looking wood with alternating stripes of brown and creme colors.  It is also a rather dense exotic wood, but not so much so that it blunts blades.  Desired largely for its unusual coloration and grain patterns, zebrawood is definitely good for making a statement.  What I have is the left overs from a rather unique commission (the client sent me the wood and asked that a tray be made from it).  I can get my hands on more, however.