WOOD SPECIES:
Kingwood
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Dalbergia cearensis
OTHER COMMON NAMES:
Kingwood, Brazilian Kingwood, Jacaranda-Cega-Macho, Jacaranda-Violeta, Miolo-De-Negro, Pau-Violeta, Violet Wood, Violete, Violetta
TYPICAL USES:
Accent pieces, inlays and banding, veneers, small specialty items, turnery
SOURCES:
Central America, South America
SPECIFIC GRAVITY:
0.98
AVG WEIGHT:
75 lbs/cu.ft.
SAPWOOD COLOR:
Kingwood sapwood is generally a pale yellowish color.
HEARTWOOD COLOR:
Kingwood’s heartwood typically ranges from a dark purple color to reddish brown, with dark almost black streaking.
GRAIN:
Usually straight, occasionally interlocking.
TEXTURE:
Fine texture with small to medium pores.
MOVEMENT:
Kingwood is reported to be very stable with little or no dimensional movement.
DURABILITY:
Very resistant to decay and insect attack.
BLUNTING EFFECT:
Due to its high density and hardness, Kingwood exhibits an above-average blunting effect on cutting edges.
CUTTING RESISTANCE:
Somewhat resistant to cutting and sawing operations. Sharp blades are recommended.
PLANING:
Care must be taken to ensure sharp cutters, proper angles and appropriate feed rates in order to avoid tearout when planing Kingwood.
TURNING:
Kingwood is best suited for turning operations, resulting in clean smooth surfaces.
BORING:
Somewhat resistant. Sharp tools are a must.
GLUING:
Kingwood can be somewhat difficult to glue, owing to the high volume of natural oils present in the wood.
POLISHING:
Kingwood reportedly take a high polish.
STAINING:
For the most part, staining Kingwood is not recommended. It’s cost and natural beauty dictate nothing more than clear or natural fininshes.
