Pau Ferro
Libidibia ferrea
Pau Ferro, meaning "ironwood" in Portuguese, is a stunning Brazilian hardwood featuring dramatic color variations from golden yellow to deep reddish-brown with distinctive dark brown to black streaking. This exceptionally hard and dense wood combines striking visual appeal with outstanding durability and natural resistance to decay, making it ideal for premium flooring, fine furniture, musical instruments, and decorative applications where both beauty and performance are paramount.
Janka Hardness
3840 lbf
Extremely hard
Density
75 lbs/ft³
Extremely dense
Shrinkage
Moderate (8.6% tangential, 5.5% radial)
Good stability
Appearance
Color: Wide color variation from golden yellow to reddish-brown with dramatic dark brown to black streaks. Resembles rosewood. Sapwood is pale yellow.
Grain: Interlocked to irregular grain with medium to fine texture. Attractive natural luster.
Key Characteristics
- •Stunning color variation and figure
- •Extremely hard and dense
- •Excellent natural durability
- •Rosewood-like appearance
- •Outstanding wear resistance
- •Beautiful natural luster
Common Applications
Maintenance
Extremely durable requiring minimal maintenance. For flooring, periodic cleaning maintains appearance. Natural oils provide inherent protection and luster.
Advantages
- +Exceptional hardness and durability
- +Stunning rosewood-like appearance
- +Excellent natural decay and insect resistance
- +Natural luster requires minimal finishing
- +Takes detail beautifully in carving
- +Long-lasting in demanding applications
Considerations
- •Extreme hardness makes working very difficult
- •Requires carbide-tipped cutting tools
- •Pre-drilling mandatory for all fasteners
- •High price due to quality and scarcity
- •May cause allergic reactions
- •Color and grain vary significantly between boards