Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionVerawood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Verawood 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 namePlectrocarpa arborea (formerly placed in the Bulnesia genus; see comments below )
Janka hardness3,810 lbf
Average dried weight74.6 lb/ft³
Best fitTool handles
Overview
Why choose Verawood?
Verawood is a domestic hardwood species. Its natural range is Colombia and Venezuela. Common uses include tool handles, mallet heads, bushings, bearings, pulley wheels, boatbuilding, turned objects and heavy construction near where the tree grows.
Scientific namePlectrocarpa arborea (formerly placed in the Bulnesia genus; see comments below )
DistributionColombia and Venezuela
DurabilityOutdoors, verawood is described as highly durable, and some say it lasts “indefinitely”.
Verawood colour, grain, and figure
Heartwood colour covers a wide span, with pale yellowish olive at one end and deep forest green at the other, plus dark brown, or dark brown. It darkens with age, especially after exposure to light.
The grain is usually interlocked. The texture is fine and even, with a very high natural shine.
Working notes
Its extreme density makes it prone to skipping over jointer cutterheads, so take very light passes. It also dulls cutters and is considered quite hard to work overall.
Sneezing has been reported from the sawdust, and lignum vitae, a close relative, is reported to irritate the skin.
Verawood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Verawood
Best projects
Common uses include tool handles, mallet heads, bushings, bearings, pulley wheels, boatbuilding, turned objects and heavy construction near where the tree grows.
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 Verawood 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.
Verawood FAQ
What is Verawood best used for?
Common uses include tool handles, mallet heads, bushings, bearings, pulley wheels, boatbuilding, turned objects and heavy construction near where the tree grows. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Verawood 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 Verawood?
The buying section on this page links to any Verawood Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.