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View optionBrazilwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Brazilwood 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 namePaubrasilia echinata (formerly listed in the genera Caesalpinia and Guilandina )
Janka hardness2,820 lbf
Average dried weight65.6 lb/ft³
Best fitStringed instrument bows (violin
Overview
Why choose Brazilwood?
Brazilwood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Brazil. It is useful when the project calls for stringed instrument bows (violin, viola, cello, etc.), veneers, inlay, carvings, 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 namePaubrasilia echinata (formerly listed in the genera Caesalpinia and Guilandina )
DistributionBrazil
ShrinkageRadial: 4.7%, Tangential: 8.5%, Volumetric: 14.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.8 More images | Identification
DurabilityBrazilwood is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance.
Brazilwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is yellowish orange, sometimes darker reddish brown. Whitish yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight or occasionally interlocked; fine, even texture with good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, despite its high density, brazilwood has good workability, though interlocked grain can result in tearout during surfacing operations. Turns, glues, and finishes well.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, brazilwood has been reported to cause skin irritation, as well as a number of other effects, such as headache, nausea, swelling skin, and blisters.
Brazilwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Brazilwood
Best projects
Stringed instrument bows (violin, viola, cello, etc.), veneers, inlay, carvings, 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 Brazilwood 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.
Brazilwood FAQ
What is Brazilwood best used for?
Brazilwood is best considered for stringed instrument bows (violin, viola, cello, etc.), veneers, inlay, carvings, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Brazilwood 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 Brazilwood?
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.