Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionLimba Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Limba 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 nameTerminalia superba
Janka hardness670 lbf
Average dried weight35 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Limba?
Limba is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Tropical western Africa. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, plywood, furniture, musical instruments (primarily electric guitar bodies), 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 nameTerminalia superba
DistributionTropical western Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 4.3%, Tangential: 6.3%, Volumetric: 10.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.5 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as non-durable, and also susceptible to insect attack.
Limba colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a light yellowish to golden brown, sometimes with grey to nearly black streaks and veins. Wood with such darker figuring is referred to as black limba, while plain unfigured wood is called white limba.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight to slightly interlocked, with a uniformly coarse texture. Moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Contains a small amount of silica, but blunting effect on cutters is usually small.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, limba has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well hives, asthma-like symptoms, and bleeding of the nose and gums.
Limba should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Limba
Best projects
Veneer, plywood, furniture, musical instruments (primarily electric guitar bodies), 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 Limba 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.
Limba FAQ
What is Limba best used for?
Limba is best considered for veneer, plywood, furniture, musical instruments (primarily electric guitar bodies), and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Limba 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 Limba?
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.