Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionPau Rosa Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Pau Rosa 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 nameBobgunnia fistuloides, B.
Janka hardness2,940 lbf
Average dried weight64 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Pau Rosa?
Pau Rosa is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Small clusters within African rainforests. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, carvings, furniture, turned objects, and other 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 nameBobgunnia fistuloides, B.
DistributionSmall clusters within African rainforests
ShrinkageRadial: 4.2%, Tangential: 6.0%, Volumetric: 10.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.4
DurabilityRated as very durable regarding decay resistance, and is also resistant to insect attack.
Pau Rosa colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood tends to vary in color from a pink or yellow to a darker reddish brown, with darker brown streaks common. White to pale yellow sapwood clearly demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain tends to be wavy or interlocked. Uniform medium to coarse texture, with a high natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, generally easy to work despite its density, though cutting resistance can be high, and the wood has a tendency to burn while being drilled. Planes fairly well despite having interlocked grain (typically only slightly interlocked).
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Pau Rosa has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Pau Rosa should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Pau Rosa
Best projects
Veneer, carvings, furniture, turned objects, and other 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 Pau Rosa 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 Rosa FAQ
What is Pau Rosa best used for?
Pau Rosa is best considered for veneer, carvings, furniture, turned objects, and other small, specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Pau Rosa 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 Rosa?
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.