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 fitTurned items
Overview
Why choose Canarywood?
Canarywood is an imported specialty hardwood. Its natural range is South America (Panama south to southern Brazil). Common uses include turned items, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, veneers, flooring, railroad crossties and construction lumber.
Scientific nameCentrolobium spp.
DistributionSouth America (Panama south to southern Brazil)
ShrinkageRadial: 2.4%, Tangential: 5.6%, Volumetric: 8.4%, T/R Ratio: 2.3
DurabilityVery durable against decay, and it resists termites and marine borers.
Canarywood colour, grain, and figure
The heartwood varies quite a bit, between pale yellow-orange and a deeper reddish brown, normally streaked with darker lines. The sapwood is pale yellow and sharply set off from the heartwood.
The grain is typically straight, though some pieces are irregular or wild. The texture is even and fine to medium, with a good natural sheen.
Working notes
It works easily with hand and machine tools, although planing wild or irregular grain can cause some tearout. It has good dimensional stability.
Apart from the usual hazards of any wood dust, no other health reactions are linked to canarywood.
Canarywood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Canarywood
Best projects
Common uses include turned items, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, veneers, flooring, railroad crossties and construction lumber.
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?
Common uses include turned items, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, veneers, flooring, railroad crossties and construction lumber. 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?
The buying section on this page links to any Canarywood 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.