Albesia or Belalu [Albizia falcata]...

...white, soft wood -- sometimes brown at

the center, often used for inexpensive,

painted wood carvings.

Crocodile or Satin Wood [Zanthoxylum rhetsa]...

...white, relatively hard wood. Carvings usually

have a very smooth finish -- making them look

look a little like ivory.

Suar or Rain Tree [Samanea saman]...

...brown, hard wood -- favored wood of importers

outside of the tropics because the crisscrossed,

interlocking grain keeps the wood from cracking

when moved to drier climates. It can be finished

to a fairly high gloss.

Waru or Grey Hibiscus [Hibiscus tiliaceus]...

...white blended with light gray -- the dark heartwood

often makes for distinctive two-tone carvings. As this

wood ages, the gray turns greenish -- a very beautiful

look. Grey hibiscus can be sanded to a very smooth finish.

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