Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionThuya Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Thuya 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 nameTetraclinis articulata
Janka hardness1,160 lbf
Average dried weight42 lb/ft³
Best fitCarvings
Overview
Why choose Thuya?
Thuya is a domestic hardwood species associated with Atlas mountain region (primarily Morocco, as well as subpopulations in Malta and southern Spain). It is useful when the project calls for carvings, veneer, decorative boxes, turned objects, and other small speciality 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 nameTetraclinis articulata
DistributionAtlas mountain region (primarily Morocco, as well as subpopulations in Malta and southern Spain)
ShrinkageRadial: 4.5%, Tangential: 5.1%, Longitudinal: 3.3%, Volumetric: 12.9%, T/R Ratio: 1.1** **shrinkage values are for burl wood
DurabilityRated as durable; good insect/borer resistance.
Thuya colour, grain, and figure
Expect color is generally an orangish or reddish brown. Color tends to darken with age to a medium to dark reddish brown.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: burl blocks can vary in frequency and size of knot clusters, but grain is more or less swirled/irregular. With a medium to fine texture and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, like most other burls, Thuya burl can be difficult to work, and care must be taken to avoid tearout. Most shaping/planing operations will result in torn grain, and should be performed by hand with very sharp tools.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Thuya has been reported to cause eye and skin irritation.
Thuya should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Thuya
Best projects
Carvings, veneer, decorative boxes, turned objects, and other small speciality 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 Thuya 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.
Thuya FAQ
What is Thuya best used for?
Thuya is best considered for carvings, veneer, decorative boxes, turned objects, and other small speciality wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Thuya 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 Thuya?
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.