Wenge rough sawn lumber
Dark exotic alternative for accent parts and premium contrast.
View optionCocobolo Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Cocobolo 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 nameDalbergia retusa
Janka hardness2,960 lbf
Average dried weight68.5 lb/ft³
Best fitFine furniture
Overview
Why choose Cocobolo?
Cocobolo is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Central America. It is useful when the project calls for fine furniture, musical instruments, turnings, and other small specialty 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 nameDalbergia retusa
DistributionCentral America
ShrinkageRadial: 2.7%, Tangential: 4.3% · Volumetric: 7.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
DurabilityRated as very durable, and also resistant to insect attack.
Cocobolo colour, grain, and figure
Expect cocobolo can be seen in a kaleidoscope of different colors, ranging from yellow, orange, red, and shades of brown with streaks of black or purple. Sapwood is typically a very pale yellow.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight to interlocked, with a fine, even texture. Good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, due to the high oil content found in this wood, it can occasionally cause problems with gluing . Also, the wood’s color can bleed into surrounding wood when applying a finish, so care must be taken on the initial seal coats not to smear the wood’s color/oils into surrounding areas.
Notoriously allergenic.
Cocobolo should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Cocobolo
Best projects
Fine furniture, musical instruments, turnings, and other small specialty 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 Cocobolo 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.
Walnut lumber collection
Practical dark premium alternative when the project needs easier machining.
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.
Cocobolo FAQ
What is Cocobolo best used for?
Cocobolo is best considered for fine furniture, musical instruments, turnings, and other small specialty objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Cocobolo 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 Cocobolo?
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.