Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionRengas Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Rengas 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 nameGluta spp.
Janka hardness1,720 lbf
Average dried weight48 lb/ft³
Best fitTurned objects
Overview
Why choose Rengas?
Rengas is a domestic hardwood species associated with From India to Papua New Guinea. It is useful when the project calls for turned objects, cabinetry, furniture, and other 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 nameGluta spp.
DistributionFrom India to Papua New Guinea
ShrinkageRadial: 2.9%, Tangential: 5.3%, Volumetric: 8.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
DurabilityRated as moderately durable, though not resistant to termites or other insects.
Rengas colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a deep red with darker streaks, while the sapwood is a lighter pinkish-brown to almost white. Heartwood will darken in color upon exposure to light and air.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: has a fine to medium texture with typically straight or slightly irregular grain.
Working notes
In the shop, severely dulls cutting tools due to a high silica content. Otherwise, wood is fairly easy to work and glues and finishes well.
The sap of Rengas is reported to be strongly irritating to the skin, causing blisters, sores, and reactions similar to poison ivy, as well as fever and constitutional effects in some individuals.
Rengas should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Rengas
Best projects
Turned objects, cabinetry, furniture, and other 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 Rengas 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.
Rengas FAQ
What is Rengas best used for?
Rengas is best considered for turned objects, cabinetry, furniture, and other specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Rengas 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 Rengas?
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.