8/4 Kingwood Lumber: Rare Rosewood

8/4 Brazilian Kingwood Lumber

Kingwood is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. It was the most expensive wood in general use for furniture making in the seventeenth century, at which time it was known as princes wood.

source: Wikipedia

What is Kingwood Lumber?

Kingwood is a true Dalbergia Rosewood. Additionally, it is an extremely strong and dense hardwood.

The heartwood color runs dark purple & violet with steaks of black. Further, its sapwood runs pale white to cream. The wood’s grain pattern runs extremely tight.

Additionally, the wood was a favorite of  European royalty in countries such as England and France,. Presumably, that is where its name came from.

Significantly, even experienced woodworkers often struggle to distinguish true Dalbergia rosewoods from non-Dalbergia rosewoods. Granadillo, Pau Ferro and Chechen, share many of the same characteristics:

• Heart/Sap contrast
• High density
• Red/Brown/Purple heartwood color tones
• Pale white sapwood color

Dalbergia Log Size

This rare wood is difficult to find in lumber form. Typically, it is made into small turning blanks or inlay stock. The reason is that King-wood trees are small. 

Accordingly, the prized heartwood section is small and often includes pith. Thus, clear cutting units are small. Additionally, the wood’s extreme density makes it difficult to dry well.