Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionMopane Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Mopane 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 nameColophospermum mopane
Janka hardness3,390 lbf
Average dried weight67 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose Mopane?
Mopane is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Southern Africa. It is useful when the project calls for flooring, musical instruments (woodwind), turned objects, fuelwood/charcoal, furniture, inlay, and exterior construction
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 nameColophospermum mopane
DistributionSouthern Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 4.0%, Tangential: 5.2%, Volumetric: 9.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.3
DurabilityMopane is rated as very durable, and is also resistant to termites and powder post beetles.
Mopane colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is medium to dark reddish brown, with black stripes. Color tends to darken with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually interlocked. Fine uniform texture with a moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, mopane is generally considered to be difficult to work, mainly on account of its incredibly high density. Machining has a severe blunting effect on cutters.
Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Mopane.
Mopane should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Mopane
Best projects
Flooring, musical instruments (woodwind), turned objects, fuelwood/charcoal, furniture, inlay, and exterior construction
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 Mopane 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.
Mopane FAQ
What is Mopane best used for?
Mopane is best considered for flooring, musical instruments (woodwind), turned objects, fuelwood/charcoal, furniture, inlay, and exterior construction. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Mopane 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 Mopane?
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.