Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionTambootie Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Tambootie 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 nameSpirostachys africana
Janka hardness2,480 lbf
Average dried weight60 lb/ft³
Best fitCarvings
Overview
Why choose Tambootie?
Tambootie is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Southern Africa. It is useful when the project calls for carvings, furniture, 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 nameSpirostachys africana
DistributionSouthern Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 2.8%, Tangential: 5.4%, Volumetric: 8.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
DurabilityTambootie heartwood is rated as being very durable, and is also resistant to insect attack.
Tambootie colour, grain, and figure
Expect color ranges from a golden brown to a darker reddish brown, often with black streaks throughout. Pale yellow sapwood sharply demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: tambootie has a straight grain (though occasionally it can be wavy) with a fine, even texture. Natural oils within the wood help give it a high natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, overall, Tambootie has good working characteristics, and despite its high density, responds well to machining operations. However, blunting effect on cutters is medium to severe.
The sap from a standing Tambootie tree is highly irritating to the skin.
Tambootie should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Tambootie
Best projects
Carvings, furniture, 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 Tambootie 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.
Tambootie FAQ
What is Tambootie best used for?
Tambootie is best considered for carvings, furniture, turned objects, and other small, specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Tambootie 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 Tambootie?
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.