Ipe Wood Lumber – (pronounced “ee-pay”), also called Brazilian Walnut, is a beautiful dark grained wood from South America. Ipe wood can vary in color from reddish-brown, to a more yellowish-olive brown or darker blackish-brown; sometimes with contrasting darker brown/black stripes. In certain trees, there are powdery yellow deposits within the wood. Ipe is rated as very durable with excellent insect resistance and weathering characteristics. Ipe was used for the boardwalk along New York City’s Coney Island, and was said to have lasted 25 years before needing replacement.

Workability: Ipe Wood Lumber is difficult to work, being extremely hard and dense with a high cutting resistance and a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges. The wood generally planes smoothly, but the grain can tearout on interlocked areas. Ipe can be difficult to glue, surface preparation prior to gluing is recommended. Straight-grained wood turns well, but natural powdery yellow deposits can sometimes interfere with polishing or finishing.