Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionEast Indian satinwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
East Indian satinwood 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 nameChloroxylon swietenia
Janka hardness2,600 lbf
Average dried weight60.7 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose East Indian satinwood?
East Indian satinwood is a domestic hardwood species associated with Central and southern India, and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). It is useful when the project calls for veneer, inlays, fine furniture, turned objects, and other small specialty 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 nameChloroxylon swietenia
DistributionCentral and southern India, and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon)
ShrinkageRadial: 5.6%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 13.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.4 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as very durable regarding decay resistance, though susceptible to insect attack.
East Indian satinwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood ranges from light to golden yellow, to orangish brown. Whitish yellow sapwood generally paler than heartwood, but not always clearly demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is interlocked, producing an attractive mottle figure, as well as striped or roey patterns on quartersawn surfaces. Texture is fine and even, with a very high natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, difficult to work on account of its high density and interlocked grain. Most surfacing and planing operations result in tearout, especially on quartersawn surfaces.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, East Indian satinwood has been reported as a sensitizer .
East Indian satinwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for East Indian satinwood
Best projects
Veneer, inlays, fine furniture, turned objects, and other small specialty 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 East Indian satinwood 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.
East Indian satinwood FAQ
What is East Indian satinwood best used for?
East Indian satinwood is best considered for veneer, inlays, fine furniture, turned objects, and other small specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is East Indian satinwood 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 East Indian satinwood?
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.