Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionChinaberry Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Chinaberry 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 nameMelia azedarach
Janka hardness990 lbf
Average dried weight38 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Chinaberry?
Chinaberry is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Southern Asia, Australia and Oceania. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, carvings, furniture, 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 nameMelia azedarach
DistributionSouthern Asia, Australia and Oceania
ShrinkageRadial: 5.0%, Tangential: 8.5%, Volumetric: 13.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
DurabilityThere are many conflicting reports on Chinaberry’s durability.
Chinaberry colour, grain, and figure
Expect color can range from a light pinkish orange to a deeper reddish brown. Color becomes darker upon prolonged exposure to light.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight, though occasionally interlocked. Texture is coarse and uneven, though with a pronounced natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, due to it’s moderate density and generally straight grain, Chinaberry is quite easy to work: it cuts, planes, sands, and glues well. Perhaps the only difficulty is in its large pores, which tend to give a very open and grainy finished appearance, which may need to be filled, particularly if a smooth glossy surface is desired.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Chinaberry has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well as headaches.
Chinaberry should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Chinaberry
Best projects
Veneer, carvings, furniture, 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 Chinaberry 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.
Chinaberry FAQ
What is Chinaberry best used for?
Chinaberry is best considered for veneer, carvings, furniture, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Chinaberry 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 Chinaberry?
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.