Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionTatabu Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Tatabu 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 nameDiplotropis purpurea
Janka hardness2,140 lbf
Average dried weight57.7 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose Tatabu?
Tatabu is a imported specialty hardwood associated with South America. It is useful when the project calls for flooring, furniture, turned objects, and veneer, as well as heavy exterior construction applications not requiring much machining, such as railroad ties, bridges, and beams
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 nameDiplotropis purpurea
DistributionSouth America
ShrinkageRadial: 4.8%, Tangential: 7.1%, Volumetric: 11.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.5 More images | Identification
DurabilityConflicting ratings vary from moderately durable (for real-world tests done in Guyana [1] Fanshawe, D.
Tatabu colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood ranges from medium brown to darker reddish brown, sometimes alternatively with a grayish hue. The paler sapwood is usually well demarcated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain variable, from straight to wavy and/or interlocked. Medium to coarse texture and moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, generally difficult to work due to its high density and irregular grain. The wood can also warp and distort during drying if care is not taken to dry it slowly, though the wood is fairly stable once dry.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, tatabu has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Tatabu should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Tatabu
Best projects
Flooring, furniture, turned objects, and veneer, as well as heavy exterior construction applications not requiring much machining, such as railroad ties, bridges, and beams
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 Tatabu 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.
Tatabu FAQ
What is Tatabu best used for?
Tatabu is best considered for flooring, furniture, turned objects, and veneer, as well as heavy exterior construction applications not requiring much machining, such as railroad ties, bridges, and beams. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Tatabu 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 Tatabu?
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.