Black Poisonwood Handle Block

Black Poisonwood Handle Blocks  (dried and safe to work)

Black Poisonwood is listed as an "uncommon" wood from Central America, easy to work and popular with cigar humidor makers, as boat decking and for jewelry boxes due to the rich colours. Latin name is Metopium brownei, the solid wooden blocks have their ends waxed and are about 25 x 40 x 150 mm in size.

Black Poisonwood or Checken is frequently referred to as “Caribbean Rosewood” due to the regal color tone and pattern that this timber provides. Heartwood ranges from amber to dark chocolate, oftentimes with dark and light brown streaks. The sapwood has a tanned yellow appearance. This is a very popular wood for fine furniture! Local loggers also refer to Chechen as “black poisonwood” due to the skin irritation they experience when getting fresh sap on their bare skin. Once cut and dried the wood is safe to work with.

 The tight, two toned grain pattern is similar to what is found in the rosewoods. As a precaution, it is recommended that a dust mask, gloves and long sleeves should always be worn when working with wood, take extra precaution with this particular wood.