Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionMoabi Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Moabi 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 nameBaillonella toxisperma
Janka hardness1,790 lbf
Average dried weight54 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Moabi?
Moabi is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Equatorial Africa. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, turned objects, fine furniture, cabinetry, and small 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 nameBaillonella toxisperma
DistributionEquatorial Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 6.2%, Tangential: 8.0%, Volumetric: 14.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.3
DurabilityRated as very durable; good insect resistance.
Moabi colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a rather uniform pinkish brown, sometimes darker reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight to wavy. With a fine, even texture.
Working notes
In the shop, generally easy to work with hand or machine tools, though figured wood is much more prone to chipping and tearout in machining operations. Also, Moabi has a high silica content, and will rapidly dull cutting edges, especially tool steel.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Moabi has been reported to cause eye and nose irritation.
Moabi should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Moabi
Best projects
Veneer, turned objects, fine furniture, cabinetry, and small 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 Moabi 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.
Moabi FAQ
What is Moabi best used for?
Moabi is best considered for veneer, turned objects, fine furniture, cabinetry, and small specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Moabi 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 Moabi?
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.