Maple lumber collection
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 fitFurniture frames
Overview
Why choose Guanacaste?
Guanacaste is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Primarily Central America, as well as Mexico and northern South America. It is useful when the project calls for furniture frames, table slabs, boatbuilding, millwork, and turned 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 nameEnterolobium cyclocarpum
DistributionPrimarily Central America, as well as Mexico and northern South America
ShrinkageRadial: 2.2%, Tangential: 4.9%, Volumetric: 7.1%, T/R Ratio: 2.2
DurabilityRated as durable to very durable; mixed insect resistance.
Guanacaste colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is light to medium brown, sometimes with a reddish hue. Darker streaks of brown are sometimes present.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain usually slightly interlocked. Very coarse texture.
Working notes
In the shop, easy to work with hand and machine tools. However, tearout is common during planing, and fuzzy surfaces may be seen after machining, especially on quartersawn surfaces.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Guanacaste has been reported to cause eye and respiratory irritation.
Guanacaste should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Guanacaste
Best projects
Furniture frames, table slabs, boatbuilding, millwork, and turned 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 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?
Guanacaste is best considered for furniture frames, table slabs, boatbuilding, millwork, and turned objects. 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?
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.