A significant problem with using Woodfinder is that many vendors are listed for woods that, upon further investigation, they do not offer. I don’t know if perhaps once they did and they didn’t update their listings or if some vendors use a standardized list of woods that include most everything conceivable with the idea that once you land on their page you will find something you want to buy even if you didn’t know it beforehand. It happens to me all the time!
Common Uses:
Burmese Blackwood, when available, is most commonly used to make turned objects, carvings, furniture, inlay, musical instruments (percussion), and small specialty wood items.
Sustainability:
Burmese Blackwood, and ALL Dalbergia spp. woods are now heavily restricted under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices and is it listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as “near threatened” while not yet meeting the requirements for inclusion on the Red List.
The United States government does and will vigorously enforce all CITES prohibitions and restrictions. If caught trying to import or export Burmese Blackwood you can expect hefty fines at a minimum and your wood, or objects made from Burmese Blackwood, WILL be confiscated. It just isn’t worth it.
I realize that inherent in working with wood is the killing of a part of the natural world that may be slow to return and if I become deeply concerned about this fact, I will have to find a new hobby. I hope that such a time does not come to pass or at least not any time soon. In part because I am concerned about legally and responsibly obtained wood, I am reluctant to buy from sellers outside of well-established and known vendors. I am highly unlikely, for example, to purchase any wood from auction sites, such as Ebay, because of uncertain sourcing and documentation, as well as the potential, even likelihood, of material being misidentified in order to achieve a higher selling price.
However, due to the commercial scarcity of some woods, resorting to auction sites such as Ebay or Etsy may be the only way to obtain some desirable domestic, or in some cases exotic imported, species that are not routinely commercially harvested. The potential risks of buying in these marketplaces have to be balanced against the desire to work with a specific species of wood. That is inherently an individual decision.
I also realize that many, if not most, wood workers do not have endangered species lists memorized, therefore I think it worthwhile and important to do even a small amount of research before purchasing any lumber, domestic as well as imported, to be certain of the potential impact you are having, even in a small way, on threatened or endangered populations. This information is easy to come by and takes only minutes to locate through any Internet search engine, including those you can access on your phone as you are standing in the lumber yard or store. Unfortunately, you simply cannot count on a vendor to tell you a product they are selling is endangered.
Health Hazards:
In addition to the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, rosewoods in the Dalbergia genus has been reported as sensitizers. The most common reactions include simple eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. As always, caution is essential until you are certain you are not sensitive to Burmese Blackwood.
It is important to remember that although many people may, or may not, be sensitive to any given wood, the only experience that truly counts is your own, so use reported side effects as guidance but not as a substitute for cautious and safe practices.