Sapele rough sawn lumber
Warm reddish-brown alternative with furniture and millwork appeal.
View optionSantos Mahogany Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Santos Mahogany 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 nameMyroxylon balsamum
Janka hardness2,400 lbf
Average dried weight57 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose Santos Mahogany?
Santos Mahogany is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Southern Mexico and Central and South America. It is useful when the project calls for flooring, furniture, interior trim, and heavy 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 nameMyroxylon balsamum
DistributionSouthern Mexico and Central and South America
ShrinkageRadial: 3.8%, Tangential: 6.2%, Volumetric: 10.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
DurabilityRated as very durable in regards to decay resistance, with mixed reports on susceptibility to insect attack.
Santos Mahogany colour, grain, and figure
Expect there is a fair degree of color variation between boards of Santos Mahogany, ranging from a lighter golden brown to a darker purplish red or burgundy. The color tends to turn more red/purple with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually interlocked, with a medium to fine texture. Good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, santos Mahogany has a noticeable blunting effect on cutting edges. Working characteristics are rated as fair to poor, on account of both its density and its interlocked grain.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Santos Mahogany has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation.
Santos Mahogany should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Santos Mahogany
Best projects
Flooring, furniture, interior trim, and heavy 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 Santos Mahogany 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.
Cherry lumber collection
Domestic warm-colour alternative when the customer wants easier sourcing and workability.
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.
Santos Mahogany FAQ
What is Santos Mahogany best used for?
Santos Mahogany is best considered for flooring, furniture, interior trim, and heavy construction. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Santos Mahogany 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 Santos Mahogany?
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.