Ziricote Lumber

Ziricote Lumber in Los Angeles

Ziricote is one of the most figured and sought-after tropical hardwoods in the world. Native to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, ziricote is prized for its dramatic "spider-webbing" or "landscape" figure - dark brown to nearly black grain patterns that swirl and branch across a medium brown background like ink on parchment. Combined with excellent hardness, good stability once dried, and a smooth, fine texture that takes a glass-smooth finish, ziricote is a favorite of luthiers, fine furniture makers, knife crafters, and turners. It's one of the premier tonewoods for acoustic guitar backs and sides, frequently compared to Brazilian rosewood for its look and voice. At House of Hardwood, we carry ziricote lumber to serve woodworkers, luthiers, furniture makers, designers, and craftspeople across Los Angeles. Browse our selection of exotic hardwood lumber to find the perfect species for your next project.

Our Ziricote Lumber Selection

Our ziricote lumber is available in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses in both rough-sawn and surfaced (S4S) options. We stock select and better grades with the dramatic figured grain and deep color the species is known for. Availability can vary with import cycles - ask our team about current stock, widths, and lengths.

Why Woodworkers Choose Ziricote

  • Spectacular figure - Ziricote's signature black "landscape" or "spider-web" grain patterns are unlike anything else in the lumber world; every board is a one-of-a-kind visual composition
  • Premier tonewood - Widely regarded as one of the best alternatives to Brazilian rosewood for acoustic guitar backs and sides, with bright, articulate tone and stunning visual appeal
  • Excellent hardness - With a Janka rating of around 1,970 lbf, ziricote is harder than hickory and stands up beautifully in cutting boards, knife scales, pen blanks, and high-wear furniture
  • Fine, smooth texture - Takes a glass-smooth polish straight off the tool and finishes to a deep, lustrous sheen that brings out every detail of the figure
  • Collector-grade material - Stable, resonant, and visually arresting, ziricote is a premium choice for high-end custom projects where the wood itself is the statement

Working with Ziricote

Ziricote can be prone to end-checking during drying and occasional surface checks, so inspect boards carefully for small cracks before committing to a layout. It machines cleanly with sharp tooling and glues, sands, and finishes exceptionally well. The dust can be an irritant for sensitive users - dust collection and a mask are worth using during extended machining sessions.

Sizing

Lumber sizing and board feet diagram

Here at the House Of Hardwood, we sell most of our lumber by volume, using Board Feet.

Volume = Thickness" x Width" x Length" / 144 = bf

Importantly, the hardwood measuring system bases the thickness based on rough cutting done at the lumber mill, so all fractions indicate the ROUGH thickness.

We sell our hardwood S2S (Surfaced 2 Sides) – This means the boards have been planed down from their rough cut form to be flat. The edges are still not straight at this point, but we can straighten them up for you!

This S2S operation removes 3/16" therefore it is important to note net thicknesses:

Rough ThicknessNet Thickness (S2S)
4/4 Lumber13/16"
5/4 Lumber1 1/16"
6/4 Lumber1 5/16"
8/4 Lumber1 13/16"
10/4 Lumber2 5/16"
12/4 Lumber2 13/16"
16/4 Lumber3 13/16"

Visit Us or Call Ahead

Ziricote is an imported tropical hardwood and inventory can vary by thickness and width. We recommend calling ahead or stopping by to hand-select your material - figure and color vary dramatically from board to board, so choosing in person is worth the trip.

📍 2414 S. Wellesley Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064
📞 310-479-4196
✉️ info@houseofhardwood.com
🕐 Monday-Friday, 7:30 am-4:00 pm