Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionTurpentine Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Turpentine 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 nameSyncarpia glomulifera
Janka hardness2,750 lbf
Average dried weight59 lb/ft³
Best fitExterior applications such as shipbuilding
Overview
Why choose Turpentine?
Turpentine is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Australia. It is useful when the project calls for exterior applications such as shipbuilding, railroad crossties, and decking
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 nameSyncarpia glomulifera
DistributionAustralia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.7%, Tangential: 10.4%, Volumetric: 16.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
DurabilityHeartwood is reported to be very durable and resistant to decay from both fungi and insects.
Turpentine colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is red or reddish brown; sapwood is pale pinkish.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: has a fine to medium texture. The grain can be either straight, wavy, or interlocked.
Working notes
In the shop, can be difficult to work due to its high density, which has a tendancy to dull cutting edges. Finishes to a high luster.
This wood has been reported to cause irritation and swelling of the mucous membranes.
Turpentine should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Turpentine
Best projects
Exterior applications such as shipbuilding, railroad crossties, and decking
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 Turpentine 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.
Turpentine FAQ
What is Turpentine best used for?
Turpentine is best considered for exterior applications such as shipbuilding, railroad crossties, and decking. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Turpentine 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 Turpentine?
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.