Acacia (Monkey Pod / Golden Acacia)
Samanea saman (Albizia saman) • Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Interlocked, wavy, and irregular grain with large, open pores. Often features wild figure and chatoyance (shimmer) when finished.
Color Description
Heartwood is a golden to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks. Sapwood is typically thin and yellow-white, which creates high contrast. Often darkens slightly to a deeper amber with light exposure.
Hardness Rating
approx. 600 - 900 lbf (Soft to Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable. Highly resistant to rot and termites; excellent stability once seasoned.
Common Uses
Live edge furniture, dining tables, bowls, guitars, and decorative carvings.
Geographic Origin
Central and South America; widely naturalized in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines).
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$12.00 - $25.00 per board foot (higher for wide live-edge slabs)
Wood Age Estimate
Finished product appears to be 5-15 years old; raw timber likely harvested from a tree 40-70 years old.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; widely available and fast-growing.
Workability
Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though interlocked grain can cause tearout during planing. Glues and finishes well.
Notable Features
Distinctive large pores; often used in 'Suar wood' furniture. Known for its specific chatoyance and light-reflecting properties.
Finish Recommendations
Oil-based finishes or clear lacquers to pop the grain; polyurethane for dining surfaces to provide water resistance.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of the golden-brown color, large open grain texture, and use in a live-edge slab table is characteristic of Acacia/Monkey Pod.