Wenge rough sawn lumber
Dark exotic alternative for accent parts and premium contrast.
View optionKingwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Kingwood 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 nameDalbergia cearensis
Janka hardness2,660 lbf
Average dried weight65.1 lb/ft³
Best fitInlays
Overview
Why choose Kingwood?
Kingwood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Brazil. It is useful when the project calls for inlays, veneers, tool handles, and other small turned and/or 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 nameDalbergia cearensis
DistributionBrazil
ShrinkageRadial: 6.9%, Tangential: 9.3% · Volumetric: 16.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.4
DurabilityReported as being very durable in decay resistance, and is also resistant to termites.
Kingwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a dark purplish or reddish brown with darker black streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow and sharply demarcated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight or occasionally interlocked. Fine, uniform texture and a high natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, tends to be difficult to work due to its high density. Kingwood has a moderate blunting effect on cutters, and tearout can occur during planing if interlocked grain is present.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, kingwood has been reported as a sensitizer .
Kingwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Kingwood
Best projects
Inlays, veneers, tool handles, and other small turned and/or 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 Kingwood 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.
Walnut lumber collection
Practical dark premium alternative when the project needs easier machining.
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.
Kingwood FAQ
What is Kingwood best used for?
Kingwood is best considered for inlays, veneers, tool handles, and other small turned and/or specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Kingwood 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 Kingwood?
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.