Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionBocote Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Bocote 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 nameCordia spp.
Janka hardness2,010 lbf
Average dried weight53 lb/ft³
Best fitFine furniture
Overview
Why choose Bocote?
Bocote is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Mexico and Central/South America. It is useful when the project calls for fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items
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 nameCordia spp.
DistributionMexico and Central/South America
ShrinkageRadial: 4.0%, Tangential: 7.4%, Volumetric: 11.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
DurabilityHeartwood is rated from moderately durable to very durable depending on the species; it is susceptible to insect attack.
Bocote colour, grain, and figure
Expect has a yellowish brown body with dramatic dark brown to almost black stripes. Color tends to darken with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain on most decorative pieces is usually figured in some way, and also tends to be interlocked, though pieces with plain and straight grain can also be found. Medium uniform texture and a naturally oily/waxy feel.
Working notes
In the shop, some species may contain silica that will dull cutters. On the whole, Bocote is easily worked and machined with good results.
Bocote has been shown to cause cross reactions once an allergic sensitivity to certain woods has been developed.
Bocote should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Bocote
Best projects
Fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items
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 Bocote 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.
Bocote FAQ
What is Bocote best used for?
Bocote is best considered for fine furniture, cabinetry, flooring, veneer, boatbuilding, musical instruments, gunstocks, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Bocote 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 Bocote?
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.