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 fitTurned objects
Overview
Why choose Chinaberry?
Chinaberry is an imported specialty hardwood. Its natural range is Oceania, Australia and southern Asia. Common uses include turned objects, furniture, carvings and veneer.
Scientific nameMelia azedarach
DistributionOceania, Australia and southern Asia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.0%, Tangential: 8.5%, Volumetric: 13.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
DurabilityReports on the durability of chinaberry conflict with one another.
Chinaberry colour, grain, and figure
Colour goes from pale pinkish orange to a richer reddish brown, and darkens with long exposure to light.
Grain is mostly straight and sometimes interlocked. It has a coarse, uneven texture but a pronounced natural luster.
Working notes
With moderate density and mostly straight grain, chinaberry works readily: it cuts, planes and sands cleanly, and takes glue well. The only real difficulty is its large pores, which leave an open, grainy look and may need filling for a smooth, glossy surface.
Serious reactions are rare, but chinaberry is reported to irritate the skin and airways and to cause headaches.
Chinaberry should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Chinaberry
Best projects
Common uses include turned objects, furniture, carvings and veneer.
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?
Common uses include turned objects, furniture, carvings and veneer. 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?
The buying section on this page links to any Chinaberry 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.