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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 fitOther small specialty items
Overview
Why choose Bocote?
Bocote is an imported specialty hardwood. Its natural range is Mexico and Central and South America. Common uses include other small specialty items, turned objects, gunstocks, musical instruments, boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, cabinetry and fine furniture.
Scientific nameCordia spp.
DistributionMexico and Central and South America
ShrinkageRadial: 4.0%, Tangential: 7.4%, Volumetric: 11.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
DurabilityDepending on the species, the heartwood is rated from moderate to very high in durability. Insects can attack it.
Bocote colour, grain, and figure
The body is yellowish brown with bold stripes of dark brown to nearly black. The colour deepens with age.
Decorative pieces are usually figured and the grain tends to be interlocked, although plain, straight-grained boards turn up too. The texture is medium and even, and the surface feels oily or waxy.
Working notes
Some species may hold silica, which dulls cutters. Overall, bocote cuts and machines easily with good results.
In people who have already become allergic to certain woods, bocote is known to trigger cross reactions.
Bocote should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Bocote
Best projects
Common uses include other small specialty items, turned objects, gunstocks, musical instruments, boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, cabinetry and fine furniture.
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?
Common uses include other small specialty items, turned objects, gunstocks, musical instruments, boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, cabinetry and fine furniture. 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?
The buying section on this page links to any Bocote Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.