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Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionSnakewood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Snakewood 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 nameBrosimum guianense
Janka hardness3,800 lbf
Average dried weight75.7 lb/ft³
Best fitInlay
Overview
Why choose Snakewood?
Snakewood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Coastal regions of northeast South America. It is useful when the project calls for inlay, veneer, violin bows, tool handles, and other small turned or specialty 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 nameBrosimum guianense
DistributionCoastal regions of northeast South America
ShrinkageRadial: 4.7%, Tangential: 6.0% · Volumetric: 10.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.3
DurabilitySnakewood is reported to be very durable and also resistant to insect attack, though it’s seldom used in exterior applications where durability would be an issue.
Snakewood colour, grain, and figure
Expect snakewood is so called for its characteristic snakeskin patterns. Wood is typically a reddish brown, with contrasting darker brown or black patches.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight, with a fine even texture. High natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, being closely related to bloodwood , snakewood shares many of the same working properties; namely, the wood is extremely dense, and has a pronounced blunting effect on cutters. Snakewood also tends to be quite brittle and can splinter easily while being worked.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, snakewood has been reported as a skin and respiratory irritant.
Snakewood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Snakewood
Best projects
Inlay, veneer, violin bows, tool handles, and other small turned or specialty 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 Snakewood 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.
Snakewood FAQ
What is Snakewood best used for?
Snakewood is best considered for inlay, veneer, violin bows, tool handles, and other small turned or specialty objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Snakewood 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 Snakewood?
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.