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Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionGuanacaste Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Guanacaste 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 nameEnterolobium cyclocarpum
Janka hardness470 lbf
Average dried weight27 lb/ft³
Best fitTurned objects
Overview
Why choose Guanacaste?
Guanacaste is an imported specialty hardwood. Primarily Central America, but also northern South America and Mexico. Common uses include turned objects, millwork, boatbuilding, table slabs and furniture frames.
Scientific nameEnterolobium cyclocarpum
DistributionPrimarily Central America, but also northern South America and Mexico
ShrinkageRadial: 2.2%, Tangential: 4.9%, Volumetric: 7.1%, T/R Ratio: 2.2
DurabilityThe wood is rated durable to very durable, with mixed insect resistance.
Guanacaste colour, grain, and figure
Heartwood runs from light brown to medium brown, with a reddish tint at times and occasional darker brown streaks.
The grain is usually slightly interlocked and the texture is very coarse.
Working notes
Guanacaste is easy to work by hand or machine. Planing often causes tearout, though, and machined surfaces may look fuzzy, particularly on quartersawn faces.
Serious reactions are rare, but guanacaste is reported to irritate the eyes and airways.
Guanacaste should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Guanacaste
Best projects
Common uses include turned objects, millwork, boatbuilding, table slabs and furniture frames.
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 Guanacaste 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.
Guanacaste FAQ
What is Guanacaste best used for?
Common uses include turned objects, millwork, boatbuilding, table slabs and furniture frames. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Guanacaste 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 Guanacaste?
The buying section on this page links to any Guanacaste 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.