Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionEspave Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Espave 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 nameAnacardium excelsum
Janka hardness470 lbf
Average dried weight31.2 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Espave?
Espave is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Central and South America (from Costa Rica south to Ecuador). It is useful when the project calls for veneer, plywood, furniture, boxes/crates, and utility lumber
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 nameAnacardium excelsum
DistributionCentral and South America (from Costa Rica south to Ecuador)
ShrinkageRadial: 2.8%, Tangential: 5.3%, Volumetric: 8.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.9 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as moderately durable to non-durable; poor insect resistance.
Espave colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is golden brown, sometimes with a yellow or green hue, darkening to reddish brown with age. Wide, lighter-colored sapwood ranges from gray to light pink.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is interlocked. With a medium to coarse texture and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, generally easy to work, though planing and sanding can be problematic because of the interlocked grain and low density, causing tearout and/or fuzzy surfaces. Despite low shrinkage rates, checking and warpage can occur if not initially dried with care.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, espave has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms.
Espave should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Espave
Best projects
Veneer, plywood, furniture, boxes/crates, and utility lumber
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 Espave 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.
Espave FAQ
What is Espave best used for?
Espave is best considered for veneer, plywood, furniture, boxes/crates, and utility lumber. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Espave 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 Espave?
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.