Find Your Store
Discover the natural beauty and enduring strength of hardwood. Perfect for furniture making, cabinetry, flooring, and custom woodworking projects, our hardwood selection includes a wide variety of species such as maple, ash, walnut, birch, cherry, and more. Whether you’re looking for rough-sawn lumber or live edge slabs, we carry top-quality hardwoods in a range of sizes and finishes to meet your needs. Each piece is carefully sourced for character, grain consistency, and long-lasting performance, ideal for both DIYers and professional craftsmen. As a proudly Canadian company with locally owned stores, Windsor Plywood specializes in hard-to-find wood products and offers expert, one-on-one service to help you bring your vision to life. Visit your local store to browse our full hardwood selection and get the guidance you need for your next project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bubinga and what are its characteristics?
Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.) is an African hardwood with a reddish-brown to pink colour, often with interlocked grain that produces attractive figure including pommele (blister), quilted, and waterfall grain patterns. It has a Janka hardness of approximately 2690 and is significantly denser than most domestic hardwoods. Bubinga is used for furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments, turning, and decorative veneers.
What figure patterns are found in bubinga?
Bubinga's interlocked grain produces several desirable figure types. Pommele bubinga has a blistered or shimmering surface appearance. Quilted bubinga shows a three-dimensional rippling effect. Waterfall bubinga shows elongated, flowing streaks. Flat-cut bubinga without significant figure shows a relatively uniform reddish-brown colour. The most figured pieces command premium prices and are used in high-end decorative furniture and instrument work.
Is bubinga CITES-listed?
Bubinga was listed on CITES Appendix II in 2017, which restricts but does not prohibit international trade in the species. Commercial trade requires documentation from the exporting country confirming legal harvest. This listing has affected availability and pricing of bubinga. Windsor Plywood sources exotic hardwoods from established suppliers with appropriate documentation. Contact your local branch for information on current bubinga availability.
What finish works well on bubinga?
Bubinga's density and natural oils respond well to penetrating oil finishes and hard wax oils. Film-forming finishes also work but require surface preparation to address the oily surface. Wipe the surface with mineral spirits before applying any finish to remove surface oils that would inhibit adhesion. Bubinga sands to a smooth surface that takes a high-quality finish result.
Does Windsor Plywood stock bubinga?
Windsor Plywood carries bubinga as a specialty exotic hardwood subject to current availability and CITES documentation requirements. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm current stock and discuss your project requirements.