What Is Acacia Wood?

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Acacia Types

Acacia is a hardwood harvested from trees 60 to 100 feet in height native to Australia and Hawaii. It also grows as thorny shrubbery in temperate and tropical climates. Smaller varieties of acacia are typically not used as lumber sources. Hawaiian koa is the premium species of acacia for woodworking. It contains high amounts of figured grain and produces a high-gloss sheen after finishing. Koa is more expensive than Australian blackwood, which is typically considered a lower-cost alternative to Hawaiian koa. A domestic species -- locust -- is similar in characteristics to koa and Australian blackwood and is sometimes referred to as false acacia, but do not confuse it with authentic acacia.

Australian Blackwood

Australian blackwood is increasingly used as a substitute for koa, but the descriptor is somewhat misleading. The color of Australian blackwood ranges from gold to reddish brown, and is very similar in color to mahogany or Hawaiian koa. On the Janka scale, Australian blackwood ranks slightly lower than koa at 1,160, and tends to have straighter grain and better machining characteristics than koa, with fewer interlocked grain patterns that chip or blow-out. Australian blackwood exhibits higher decay resistance than koa, but remains susceptible to insect attack. Blackwood is not appropriate for outdoor use without a sealant. Both koa and Australian blackwood are known as sensitizers, which causes irritation to eyes and skin when cut or during milling.

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