Purple Heart rough sawn lumber
Colour-forward exotic alternative for accent strips and specialty pieces.
View optionCanarywood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Canarywood 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 nameCentrolobium spp.
Janka hardness1,520 lbf
Average dried weight52 lb/ft³
Best fitConstruction lumber
Overview
Why choose Canarywood?
Canarywood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with South America (from Panama down to southern Brazil). It is useful when the project calls for construction lumber, railroad crossties, flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, and turned 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 nameCentrolobium spp.
DistributionSouth America (from Panama down to southern Brazil)
ShrinkageRadial: 2.4%, Tangential: 5.6%, Volumetric: 8.4%, T/R Ratio: 2.3
DurabilityRated as very durable in regard to decay resistance, as well as being resistant to termite and marine borer attack.
Canarywood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood color can vary a fair amount, from a pale yellow-orange to a darker reddish brown, usually with darker streaks throughout. Pale yellow sapwood is sharply demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is typically straight, but can be irregular or wild on some pieces. Uniform fine to medium texture with good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though some tearout can occur during planing on pieces with wild or irregular grain. Good dimensional stability.
Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Canarywood.
Canarywood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Canarywood
Best projects
Construction lumber, railroad crossties, flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, and turned 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 Canarywood 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.
Sapele rough sawn lumber
Warm exotic alternative when bold colour is less important than furniture usefulness.
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.
Canarywood FAQ
What is Canarywood best used for?
Canarywood is best considered for construction lumber, railroad crossties, flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, furniture, cabinetry, and turned items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Canarywood 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 Canarywood?
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.