Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionBosse Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Bosse 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 nameLeplaea cedrata (formerly Guarea cedrata)
Janka hardness940 lbf
Average dried weight37 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Bosse?
Bosse is a imported specialty hardwood associated with West and Central Africa. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, furniture, cabinetry, inlay, 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 nameLeplaea cedrata (formerly Guarea cedrata)
DistributionWest and Central Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 4.4%, Tangential: 6.7%, Volumetric: 11.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.5 More images | Identification
DurabilityHeartwood ranges from moderately durable to very durable regarding decay resistance.
Bosse colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood initially a pale pinkish brown, darkening with age to a more golden to medium brown. Pale yellowish sapwood is well defined.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain can be straight, interlocked, wavy, or anything in between. (Veneer sheets also exhibit a wide range of grain patterns.) Texture is medium to fine, with a good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, results may vary depending upon the grain of the wood: interlocked and/or quartersawn pieces can pose a difficulty planing, with tearout being common. Silica is present in this wood, causing cutting edges to blunt and dull at an increased rate.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, bosse has been reported as a sensitizer .
Bosse should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Bosse
Best projects
Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, inlay, 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 Bosse 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.
Bosse FAQ
What is Bosse best used for?
Bosse is best considered for veneer, furniture, cabinetry, inlay, flooring, boatbuilding, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Bosse 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 Bosse?
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.