Wenge rough sawn lumber
Dark exotic alternative for accent parts and premium contrast.
View optionMadagascar Rosewood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Madagascar Rosewood 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 spp.
Janka hardness2,720 lbf
Average dried weight58 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Madagascar Rosewood?
Madagascar Rosewood is a domestic hardwood species associated with Madagascar. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, musical instruments (guitar bodies and fingerboards), furniture, cabinetry, inlays, carving, turned objects, and other small specialty wood 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 spp.
DistributionMadagascar
ShrinkageRadial: 3.7%, Tangential: 6.5%, Volumetric: 10.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
DurabilityRanges from moderately durable to very durable depending on the species.
Madagascar Rosewood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood generally ranges from a light yellow-brown to a darker orange or reddish brown. Darker black streaks are common, and can produce a grain figure known as “spider-webbing” or “landscape,” also found on Brazilian Rosewood and Ziricote .
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight, with a uniform medium-fine texture.
Working notes
In the shop, generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though depending on the species, it can blunt cutting edges rapidly. Care should be taken in gluing and finishing, due to natural oils in the wood that can disrupt the drying process.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, rosewood in the Dalbergia genus , (such as Madagascar Rosewood), has been reported as a sensitizer .
Madagascar Rosewood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Madagascar Rosewood
Best projects
Veneer, musical instruments (guitar bodies and fingerboards), furniture, cabinetry, inlays, carving, turned objects, and other small specialty wood 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 Madagascar Rosewood 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.
Madagascar Rosewood FAQ
What is Madagascar Rosewood best used for?
Madagascar Rosewood is best considered for veneer, musical instruments (guitar bodies and fingerboards), furniture, cabinetry, inlays, carving, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Madagascar Rosewood 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 Madagascar Rosewood?
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.