Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionSissoo Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Sissoo 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 nameDalbergia sissoo
Janka hardness1,660 lbf
Average dried weight48 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Sissoo?
Sissoo is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Primarily northern India, Nepal, and Pakistan, as well as Western Asia; also grown on plantations. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, plywood, musical instruments (percussion), furniture, flooring, boatbuilding, carving, and turned 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 nameDalbergia sissoo
DistributionPrimarily northern India, Nepal, and Pakistan, as well as Western Asia; also grown on plantations
ShrinkageRadial: 3.1%, Tangential: 5.3%, Volumetric: 8.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
DurabilitySissoo has good decay resistance and is rated as durable to very durable.
Sissoo colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood ranges from golden brown to a darker reddish brown. The pale, straw-colored sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood, and is sometimes incorporated into finished products—possibly for reasons of economy rather than aesthetics.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: sissoo generally has a straight grain, though it can be interlocked—sometimes severely so. Texture is medium to coarse with a good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, sissoo has good working characteristics, and responds well to nearly all machining operations (the exception being sections of wood with interlocked grain, which tend to tear out during surfacing). However, chalky deposits occasionally present in the wood can dull cutters quickly.
Although Sissoo is usually considered to be less allergenic than other rosewoods in the Dalbergia genus, it has still been reported to cause skin irritation.
Sissoo should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Sissoo
Best projects
Veneer, plywood, musical instruments (percussion), furniture, flooring, boatbuilding, carving, and turned 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 Sissoo 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.
Sissoo FAQ
What is Sissoo best used for?
Sissoo is best considered for veneer, plywood, musical instruments (percussion), furniture, flooring, boatbuilding, carving, and turned objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Sissoo 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 Sissoo?
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.