Snakewood
Snakewood is woodworking's most dramatic material — the pattern looks hand-painted, but it's completely natural. It's also among the most expensive commercially available woods, often sold by the gram in small billets. Working it is brutal: it destroys tools, it won't glue, and it's incredibly dense. Most people use it for pen blanks or inlay accents, where a little goes a very long way.
- Trying to glue it without preparation — natural oils cause complete glue failure; use mechanical joinery or epoxy after thorough solvent cleaning
- Using standard carbide tooling expecting it to last — snakewood blunts even carbide rapidly; plan for frequent resharpening
- Buying large quantities before seeing the specific piece — the pattern varies enormously; the snakeskin effect ranges from subtle to spectacular
Rich reddish-brown base with irregular black spots, streaks, and patterns that resemble snakeskin or ancient lettering. Every piece is unique. The most dramatic natural patterning of any commercial wood.
Extremely hard and heavy — among the hardest commercial woods in the world. Blunts tools very rapidly. Virtually impossible to glue reliably due to natural oils. Typically sold in small billets and used sparingly for accent work. Usually finished with oil or wax.
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| North America | Specialty importers only |
| Europe | Specialty importers only |
| South America | Specialty importers only |
| Southeast Asia | Specialty importers only |
| Africa / Middle East | Specialty importers only |
| Australia / NZ | Specialty importers only |