Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionMonkey Puzzle Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Monkey Puzzle 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 nameAraucaria araucana
Janka hardness400 lbf
Average dried weight33.4 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Monkey Puzzle?
Monkey Puzzle is a domestic hardwood species associated with Chile and Argentina; also planted as an ornamental tree. It is useful when the project calls for furniture, plywood, paper (pulpwood), turned objects, and 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 nameAraucaria araucana
DistributionChile and Argentina; also planted as an ornamental tree
ShrinkageRadial: 5.0%, Tangential: 6.9%, Volumetric: 10.9%, T/R Ratio: 1.4 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as non-durable to perishable; poor insect resistance.
Monkey Puzzle colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is light brown, sometimes with a yellow or red hue. Paler sapwood isn’t clearly defined.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight, with a fine to medium uniform texture. Moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, clear sections of wood are easy to work with hand and machine tools. Sections with knots can be problematic and result in tearout or uneven sanding due to the difference in density of the two regions.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, wood in the Araucaria genus has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Monkey Puzzle should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Monkey Puzzle
Best projects
Furniture, plywood, paper (pulpwood), turned objects, and 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 Monkey Puzzle 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.
Monkey Puzzle FAQ
What is Monkey Puzzle best used for?
Monkey Puzzle is best considered for furniture, plywood, paper (pulpwood), turned objects, and small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Monkey Puzzle 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 Monkey Puzzle?
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.