Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionCamatillo Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Camatillo 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 nameDalbergia congestiflora
Janka hardness3,050 lbf
Average dried weight72.9 lb/ft³
Best fitInlays
Overview
Why choose Camatillo?
Camatillo is a domestic hardwood species associated with Mexico. It is useful when the project calls for inlays, veneers, musical instruments, tool handles, and other small turned and/or specialty 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 nameDalbergia congestiflora
DistributionMexico
ShrinkageSHRINKAGE These values represent the percentage change in radial and tangential faces of the wood—as well as the total (volumetric) shrinkage—as the moisture content goes from green (maximum) down to oven-dry (minimum), approximating the wood's stability with changes in humidity.
DurabilityAlthough there have been no studies done on camatillo in particular, it is assumed to be comparable to other closely related Dalbergia species, i.e., very durable regarding decay and termite resistance.
Camatillo colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a dark purplish or reddish brown with darker black streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow and sharply demarcated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight or slightly interlocked. Fine, uniform texture and a high natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, tends to be difficult to work due to its high density. Camatillo has a moderate blunting effect on cutters, and tearout can occur during planing if interlocked grain is present.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, camatillo has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Camatillo should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Camatillo
Best projects
Inlays, veneers, musical instruments, tool handles, and other small turned and/or specialty 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 Camatillo 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.
Camatillo FAQ
What is Camatillo best used for?
Camatillo is best considered for inlays, veneers, musical instruments, tool handles, and other small turned and/or specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Camatillo 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 Camatillo?
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.