Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionMansonia Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Mansonia 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 nameMansonia altissima
Janka hardness1,390 lbf
Average dried weight41.2 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Mansonia?
Mansonia is a imported specialty hardwood associated with West tropical Africa. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, 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 nameMansonia altissima
DistributionWest tropical Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.7%, Volumetric: 11.9%, T/R Ratio: 1.7 More images | Identification
DurabilityMansonia is very durable in regards to decay resistance, and is also resistant to termite and insect attack.
Mansonia colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood tends to be a yellowish or grayish brown, with overall mostly bland figuring. Color tends to lighten and fade with exposure to light.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is generally straight, though occasionally interlocked. Texture is fine to medium and uniform, with moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, with the exception of the sawdust’s deleterious effects on health (see safety info), mansonia is easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It glues, turns, and finishes well, and also has good steam bending properties.
Mansonia is on the short list as one of the worst wood species in terms of toxicity and commonness of allergic reactions.
Mansonia should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Mansonia
Best projects
Veneer, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, 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 Mansonia 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.
Mansonia FAQ
What is Mansonia best used for?
Mansonia is best considered for veneer, cabinetry, furniture, boatbuilding, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Mansonia 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 Mansonia?
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.