While Dalmata isn’t in the top 10 densest woods, it is certainly on the higher end of the scale. Likewise, there are certainly woods that are harder, as measured on the Janka scale, than Dalmata, but at over 2,600 lbs of force it is over twice as hard as White Oak.
The interlocked grain of Dalmata will make many machining operations, especially the use of a planer, difficult due to tear out. Again, very sharp tools are essential as is patience. When working with such a hard, dense, and interlocked wood as Dalmata, patience may in fact be the most useful, if not in fact critical, tool that you bring to the experience.
For all of its difficulties in other aspects of wood working, Dalmata is known as an excellent turning wood. Oft-times, particularly hard and dense woods prove to be excellent for the purposes of turning even if they present difficulties in other wood working operations. All the better for those of us with lathes.
Some sources claim that Dalmata exhibits no specific scent or odor but I would argue otherwise. I found that in working with my piece of Dalmata I could readily detect a slightly spicy and sweet scent not uncommonly associated with many of the hardwoods of South America.
If you purchase Dalmata green, be aware that it is notoriously difficult to dry in either a kiln or in the air. It is extremely prone to extensive checking although it doesn’t warp a great deal. But the extensive checking could be heartbreaking when you at first thought you had a beautiful piece of material. I speak from sad experience.
Dalmata Reverse
Pricing and Availability
Dalmata has a somewhat limited availability. When it is sold it is usually only as short boards or as turning stock sizes. Dalmata commands a price in the moderately expensive range.
I always recommend both West Penn Hardwoods and Bell Forest Products as excellent sources of both domestic and exotic hardwoods. I have had multiple dealings with both vendors and have always been very satisfied.
West Penn Hardwoods offers Dalmata in several sizes of thin dimensional lumber as well as bowl and spindle blanks. The largest bowl blank on offer is 8”x8”x3” and that retails for approximately $30.
At this time, Bell Forest Products is not offering Dalmata for sale, but inventories frequently change, so it might be worthwhile to check back occasionally.
A vendor that is relatively new to me, WoodTurningz of Indiana, also offers Dalmata at this time. Despite the cutesy name, which tends to annoy me, this company does offer a decent selection of bowl blanks although the focus of their business seems to be pen making. I have found a few species from this outfit which I have not found from any other vendor. They provided me with good products and excellent service so I can certainly recommend them.
WoodTurningz is offering one size of Dalmata bowl blank, 6”x6”x3” for $17.55, which is a sale price with the regular price being $19.50. To be honest, for the same size blank, West Penn Hardwoods is a better deal, but one would have to compare shipping costs to be certain.
Dalmata proves to be a relatively difficult wood to find for sale but there are without doubt other suppliers, including at least one on Ebay, a source I am generally suspicious of. In this one case especially beware that the shipping cost almost equals the cost of the wood, so you would, in the end, pay $80 for an 8”x8”x5” piece. ALWAYS beware shipping costs on Ebay, to say nothing of other concerns, about which more later.