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View optionPau Ferro Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Pau Ferro 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 nameMachaerium spp.
Janka hardness1,960 lbf
Average dried weight54 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Pau Ferro?
Pau Ferro is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Tropical South America (mainly Brazil and Bolivia). It is useful when the project calls for veneer, musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring, interior trim, turning, and other small specialty wood 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 nameMachaerium spp.
DistributionTropical South America (mainly Brazil and Bolivia)
ShrinkageRadial: 2.8%, Tangential: 6.7%, Volumetric: 9.9%, T/R Ratio: 2.4 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as very durable, though quite susceptible to insect attack, and not recommended in direct ground contact.
Pau Ferro colour, grain, and figure
Expect color can be highly varied, ranging from reddish/orange to a dark violet/brown, usually with contrasting darker black streaks. Narrow sapwood is a pale yellow and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is typically straight, though sometimes slightly irregular or interlocked depending on the species. Fine, even texture and a naturally high luster—though depending on the particular species, the wood can have a coarser, more fibrous texture.
Working notes
In the shop, pau ferro is considered overall to be of fair workability, as it can blunt the cutting edges of tools, and any irregular grain has a tendency to tearout during machining operations. Also, many of the same challenges in gluing rosewoods are common to Pau ferro as well.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, pau ferro has been reported as a sensitizer .
Pau Ferro should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Pau Ferro
Best projects
Veneer, musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring, interior trim, turning, and other small specialty wood 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 Pau Ferro 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.
Pau Ferro FAQ
What is Pau Ferro best used for?
Pau Ferro is best considered for veneer, musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring, interior trim, turning, and other small specialty wood objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Pau Ferro 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 Pau Ferro?
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.