Cocobolo has a heartwood that ranges in color from yellow, orange, red, and shades of brown, which will darken with age. The sapwood is a very pale yellow color. The grain is straight to interlocked and it has a fine even texture. The wood has a good natural lustre. The end grain is diffuse-porous. Cocobolo is rated as very durable in regards to decay. The wood has a high oil content which will pose a problem with gluing. The woods color can bleed into surround wood when a finish is being applied. Cocobolo has a moderate blunting effect on cutters but it has excellent Turing properties.