Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionChechen Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Chechen 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 nameMetopium brownei
Janka hardness2,400 lbf
Average dried weight55.0 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Chechen?
Chechen is a domestic hardwood species associated with Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, turned objects, and small specialty wood 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 nameMetopium brownei
DistributionDominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico
ShrinkageRadial: 3.8%, Tangential: 6.8%, Volumetric: 10.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.6 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as being very durable, and moderately resistant to most insect attacks.
Chechen colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood color is highly varied, with red, orange, and brown contrasted with darker stripes of blackish brown. Color tends to shift to a darker reddish brown with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight, but may be wild or interlocked. With a uniform medium to fine texture and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, fairly easy to work, but tearout may occur when machining pieces with interlocked grain. Glues and finishes well, though because of its density and tendency to split, nails and screws should be pre-bored.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, chechen has been reported as a sensitizer .
Chechen should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Chechen
Best projects
Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, turned objects, and small specialty wood 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 Chechen 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.
Chechen FAQ
What is Chechen best used for?
Chechen is best considered for veneer, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, turned objects, and small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Chechen 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 Chechen?
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.