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View optionLignum Vitae Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Lignum Vitae 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 nameGuaiacum officinale and G.
Janka hardness4,390 lbf
Average dried weight78.5 lb/ft³
Best fitTool handles
Overview
Why choose Lignum Vitae?
Lignum Vitae is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Central America and northern South America. It is useful when the project calls for tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, pulley wheels, 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 nameGuaiacum officinale and G.
DistributionCentral America and northern South America
ShrinkageRadial: 5.3%, Tangential: 8.7% · Volumetric: 14.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
DurabilityLignum vitae is reported to be very durable for outdoor use and is also very resistant to insect attack.
Lignum Vitae colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood color can range from olive to dark green/brown to nearly black, sometimes with a reddish hue. The color tends to darken with age, especially upon exposure to light.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is interlocked, sometimes severely so. Has a very fine texture and can be polished to a high luster due to its high natural oil content.
Working notes
In the shop, lignum vitae has a tendency to skip over-top jointer cutters on account of its extremely high density, and very light passes are recommended. Lignum vitae will also dull cutters, and overall the wood is considered quite difficult to work.
Lignum vitae has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Lignum Vitae should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Lignum Vitae
Best projects
Tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, pulley wheels, 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 Lignum Vitae 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.
Lignum Vitae FAQ
What is Lignum Vitae best used for?
Lignum Vitae is best considered for tool handles, mallet heads, bearings, bushings, pulley wheels, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Lignum Vitae 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 Lignum Vitae?
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.