Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionTamarind Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Tamarind 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 nameTamarindus indica
Janka hardness2,690 lbf
Average dried weight53 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Tamarind?
Tamarind is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Native to tropical Africa; widely planted throughout tropical regions worldwide. It is useful when the project calls for furniture, carvings, turned objects, 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 nameTamarindus indica
DistributionNative to tropical Africa; widely planted throughout tropical regions worldwide
ShrinkageRadial: ~3%, Tangential: ~7%, Volumetric: ~11%
DurabilityHeartwood is reported to be durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, and also resistant to insect attack.
Tamarind colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is a deep reddish brown, sometimes with a purplish hue—heartwood portions of Tamarind tend to be narrow and are usually only present in older and larger trees. The pale yellow sapwood is very wide and sharply demarcated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is wavy and interlocked with a medium uniform texture.
Working notes
In the shop, because of its density and interlocked grain, Tamarind is generally considered difficult to work. Heartwood also has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges.
Unspecified reports of toxicity have been reported for this wood species.
Tamarind should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Tamarind
Best projects
Furniture, carvings, turned objects, 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 Tamarind 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.
Tamarind FAQ
What is Tamarind best used for?
Tamarind is best considered for furniture, carvings, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Tamarind 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 Tamarind?
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.