A great alternative to mahogany, sometimes referred to as “Sapele Mahogany.” Usually pronounced (sah-PELL-ey) or (sah-PEEL-ey). Heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown. Besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quartersawn boards, Sapele is also known for a wide variety of other figured grain patterns, such as: pommele, quilted, mottled, wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback. Grain is interlocked, and sometimes wavy. Fine uniform texture and good natural luster. Heartwood ranges from moderately durable to very durable in regard to decay resistance. Should be moderately priced for regular plainsawn or quartersawn lumber.

Heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Sometimes referred to by the name Vermillion. The most common pronunciation is pah-DUKE. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening substantially over time to a reddish/purplish brown. Grain is usually straight, but can sometimes be interlocked. With a coarse, open texture and good natural luster. Padauk has excellent decay resistance, and is rated as durable to very durable. It is also reported to be resistant to termites and other insects. It is one of our favorites to work with. Extremely strong yet can be made into unique shapes. It is readily available for decent prices. Smells chocolatey when cut or sanded.

When freshly cut the heartwood of Purpleheart is a dull grayish/purplish brown. Upon exposure the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple. With further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes a dark brown with a hint of purple. The grain is usually straight, but can also be wavy or irregular. Has a medium texture with good natural luster. Purpleheart is rated as being very durable, and resists both decay and most insect attacks. Purpleheart has excellent strength properties and can be used in applications where strength is important—a wood for both form and function. This wood can be hard to work with and dulls tools quickly. It is not as readily available, can be expensive, and is very heavy. We recommend only using it for accents or handles.

Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age. Grain is straight, though it can occasionally be wavy or interlocked. Coarse, uneven texture and moderate to low natural luster. Raw, unfinished wood surfaces have a slightly oily or greasy feel due to natural oils. Teak has been considered by many to be the gold standard for decay resistance, and its heartwood is rated as very durable. Despite its widespread cultivation on plantations worldwide, Teak is very expensive. It is perhaps one of the most expensive lumbers on the market, at least for large-sized, non-figured wood. A teak speargun will be expensive but the lumber is readily available. Note: 100% teak spearguns will not be finished in epoxy unless you specifically request. Normally a special teak oil will be used instead.

Usually pronounced WHEN-gii or WHEN-ghay, the wood has excellent strength and hardness properties, and is also dark enough to be used as a substitute for ebony. Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. Grain is straight, with a very coarse texture. Low natural luster. Very durable and rot resistant, and resistant to termite attack. Wenge is on the IUCN Red List, listed as endangered due to a population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation. Because of this, we don’t often make spearguns out of wenge. The lumber is hard to come by and very expensive but is one of the more beautiful woods we have worked with.

Bubinga is a gorgeous African hardwood lumber. Due to its fine, tight grain and its reddish brown color, Bubinga is often referred to as “African Rosewood”. Heartwood ranges from a pinkish red to a darker reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks. It is very dense, very hard, and very heavy. Ranges from moderately durable to very durable depending upon the the species. Bubinga is also reported to be resistant to termite and marine borer attack. Bubinga has a close resemblance to rosewood, and is often use in place of more expensive woods. Yet Bubinga also features a host of stunning grain figures, such as flamed, pommele, and waterfall, which make this wood truly unique. Bubinga also has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Spearguns made of this wood will be extremely heavy in the water.

Heartwood is a light brown or cream color with dark blackish brown streaks vaguely resembling a zebra’s stripes. Heartwood is rated as durable and is also resistant to insect damage. Zebrawood tends to be fairly expensive, though usually not as prohibitively expensive as other exotics such as Ebony or Rosewood. Sometimes called Zebrano, the wood is strong and stiff, with a fairly high density. However, the wood is much more frequently used for its bold and unique striping. Typically it will be used as an outside laminate for its unique looks.

Heartwood color is variable, ranging from a very pale pink to a deeper reddish brown, sometimes with streaks of medium to dark reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Grain is straight to interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture. Good natural luster with a light-refracting optical phenomenon known as chatoyancy. It is moderately durable but with a moderate to poor resistance to insect and borers. Readily available in most sizes for a reasonable price. Spearguns made of this lumber tend to be light and need ballasts and/or balancing.