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Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionKatalox Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Katalox 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 nameSwartzia cubensis
Janka hardness3,660 lbf
Average dried weight71.6 lb/ft³
Best fitOther small specialty items
Overview
Why choose Katalox?
Katalox is an imported specialty hardwood. Its natural range is Northern South America, Central America and southern Mexico. Common uses include other small specialty items, turnings, guitars, parquet flooring, fine furniture and cabinetry and inlays.
Scientific nameSwartzia cubensis
DistributionNorthern South America, Central America and southern Mexico
ShrinkageRadial: 3.9%, Tangential: 7.6% · Volumetric: 11.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
DurabilityDurability depends on the species, but the wood is generally very durable.
Katalox colour, grain, and figure
Heartwood is deep reddish brown through to almost black, and can take on a strong purple tint. The pale yellowish white sapwood is sharply set apart.
The grain is mostly straight but may be irregular or interlocked. The texture is fine and even with good natural luster.
Working notes
Katalox is generally considered hard to work because it is so dense. It dulls cutters moderately to heavily, and interlocked grain can tear out in planing.
Some people have reported respiratory irritation from katalox.
Katalox should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Katalox
Best projects
Common uses include other small specialty items, turnings, guitars, parquet flooring, fine furniture and cabinetry and inlays.
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 Katalox 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.
Katalox FAQ
What is Katalox best used for?
Common uses include other small specialty items, turnings, guitars, parquet flooring, fine furniture and cabinetry and inlays. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Katalox 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 Katalox?
The buying section on this page links to any Katalox 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.