Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionAraracanga Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Araracanga is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameAspidosperma megalocarpon
Janka hardness2,450 lbf
Average dried weight59 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Araracanga?
Araracanga is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It is useful when the project calls for furniture, general construction (within its natural range), flooring, boatbuilding, and turned objects
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameAspidosperma megalocarpon
DistributionMexico, Central America, and northern South America
ShrinkageRadial: 5.8%, Tangential: 9.3%, Volumetric: 16.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
DurabilityDurability can vary based on growing location: rated anywhere from moderately durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, though susceptible to insect attack.
Araracanga colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood ranges from golden yellow to reddish brown, sometimes with violet/pinkish streaks. Yellowish sapwood not always clearly demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight with a uniform medium texture.
Working notes
In the shop, overall easy to work, producing good results, though Araracanga has an above average blunting effect on cutters. Glues, turns, and finishes well.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Araracanga has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms.
Araracanga should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Araracanga
Best projects
Furniture, general construction (within its natural range), flooring, boatbuilding, and turned objects
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Araracanga from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Araracanga FAQ
What is Araracanga best used for?
Araracanga is best considered for furniture, general construction (within its natural range), flooring, boatbuilding, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Araracanga beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Araracanga?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.