Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionPheasantwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Pheasantwood 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 nameSenna siamea (syn.
Janka hardness1,490 lbf
Average dried weight50 lb/ft³
Best fitMusical instruments (ukeleles and guitars)
Overview
Why choose Pheasantwood?
Pheasantwood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Native to South/Southeast Asia, widely planted throughout the tropics. It is useful when the project calls for musical instruments (ukeleles and guitars), turned objects, carvings, 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 nameSenna siamea (syn.
DistributionNative to South/Southeast Asia, widely planted throughout the tropics
ShrinkageRadial: ~4%, Tangential: ~7%, Volumetric: ~12%, T/R ratio: ~1.8
DurabilityRated as durable, though susceptible to insect attack.
Pheasantwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a medium to dark brown, to nearly black, with ligher brown contrasting stripes, sometimes with a red or yellow hue. The striping is due to very wide parenchyma bands, which can give it an appearance somewhat similar to Wenge , though Pheasantwood’s stripes tend to be lighter and with better contrast, especially once a finish has been applied.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain can be interlocked or wavy, with a coarse texture. Pores naturally filled with resinous material which creates a smoother surface than other open-grained woods with large pores.
Working notes
In the shop, produces moderaately good results with hand and machine tools, though Pheasantwood has a high cutting resistance, and also produces a pronounced blunting effect on cutters. Glues, turns, and finishes well.
Cavities within the wood can sometimes contain a powder that causes eye and skin irritation, as well as skin discoloration.
Pheasantwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Pheasantwood
Best projects
Musical instruments (ukeleles and guitars), turned objects, carvings, 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 Pheasantwood 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.
Pheasantwood FAQ
What is Pheasantwood best used for?
Pheasantwood is best considered for musical instruments (ukeleles and guitars), turned objects, carvings, and other small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Pheasantwood 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 Pheasantwood?
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.