Bubinga: Reddish Color and Expressive Grain
Wood Dictionary
Bubinga is an African timber with colors ranging from pinkish brown to red. It is an option when you want to enjoy distinctive color and grain, and MORI KOUGEI offers both quarter-sawn and flat-sawn A4 sheets. Look beyond the depth of color to the flow of grain that best suits the intended surface. Hoxan: Bubinga / MORI KOUGEI: Bubinga A4 veneer sheet
International delivery
For delivery outside Japan, please contact MORI KOUGEI before placing your order. Shipping availability depends on the material’s species and origin, the destination, and any permits or certificates required. Any required permits or certificates must be arranged before dispatch.
The photographs are examples of the color and grain associated with each wood or figure. Every piece of natural wood is different; the sheet you receive will not have exactly the same color or grain as the photographs.
Names and identification
- Trade and English names
- Bubinga MORI KOUGEI: Bubinga A4 veneer sheet / Hoxan: Bubinga
- General classification
- Bubinga timbers of the genus Guibourtia / Family Fabaceae USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1 / Hoxan: Bubinga
- General source region
- Africa Hoxan: Bubinga
- A4 sheet cut
- Quarter-sawn and flat-sawn MORI KOUGEI: Bubinga A4 veneer sheet
Variation within a single timber name
General timber references describe bubinga as wood of the genus Guibourtia. It is known for its reddish color, but color and pattern also vary substantially from piece to piece. Rather than expecting one fixed red or one particular pattern, seeing it as a natural wood with a range of colors makes choosing a sheet more rewarding. USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1 / Hoxan: Bubinga
How much color and grain to reveal
Hoxan describes the heartwood as pinkish brown to red and the sapwood as whitish. Heartwood is the inner part of the trunk; sapwood is the outer portion. Color therefore varies with position within the tree as well. Look at the combination of background color and grain lines, rather than judging only the strength of the red tone. Hoxan: Bubinga
A broad reddish surface can become the focus of a box or panel. Used at an edge or as a small ornament, it can instead highlight its color contrast with another wood. If lettering or an image will sit over the wood, consider an area and arrangement in which the grain and the added design do not compete.
Choosing quarter-sawn or flat-sawn grain
MORI KOUGEI's A4 sheets are available in quarter-sawn and flat-sawn versions. Choose the cut according to whether you want aligned grain or a pattern that spreads across the surface. When cutting out small shapes, a selected fragment may give a different impression from the full A4 sheet. Making a paper template first and trying different orientations can help. MORI KOUGEI: Bubinga A4 veneer sheet
Dense timber and thin decorative veneer are different materials
Bubinga is generally described as heavy and hard, with uses including furniture and decorative veneer. Those timber properties do not make an A4 veneer sheet a structural or water-resistant material. The care and performance of the finished object must be considered together with its substrate, adhesive and finish. Hoxan: Bubinga / USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
Our A4 sheets measure 210 × 297 mm and are approximately 0.25 mm thick, with natural wood veneer backed by industrial washi paper. They are for surface decoration, including furniture edges, repairs to flat wooden surfaces and wood inlay. Begin by testing cutting and bonding on a small piece, then decide where to retain the grain you want to show. Plan a practical layout that works with the material's own color and pattern. MORI KOUGEI: Bubinga A4 veneer sheet
For international orders, please contact us before ordering. Include the material name, quantity and destination in your message.
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This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.
References
- Hoxan: Bubinga
- USDA Wood Handbook, Chapter 1
- MORI KOUGEI: Bubinga A4 veneer sheet