Wood Species Guide
Tamarind
Tamarindus indica
Also called: Tamarindo, Indian Date, Spalted Tamarind
What Tamarind looks like
Sapwood is a pale yellow and makes up most of many logs. The small heartwood is a deep purplish to reddish brown. Spalted sapwood shows black lines and gray and gold patches.
Grain and texture
Grain is often interlocked with a fine to medium texture. It is dense and heavy.
Working Tamarind: planing, cutting and gluing
Hard and difficult to work because of its density and interlocked grain. Expect blunting and tearout. Spalted wood can be uneven in hardness, so stabilize soft areas first.
Finishing Tamarind: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil and film finishes well and polishes nicely. Seal spalted areas before finishing or pouring epoxy to avoid blotching and bubbles.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Heartwood is durable, but the sapwood is prone to insect attack and decay, which is also why it spalts so well. Dry quickly after cutting.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Tamarind is mostly known to woodworkers as spalted turning stock and small slabs. Its heavy weight and interlocked grain make it slow to plane, so we tend to sand and flatten it on the CNC instead. The dark heartwood core against the pale sapwood can be striking on a small table or board. Use it for pieces where the spalt pattern is the star.
Common uses for Tamarind
Turning, cutting boards, small tables, tool handles and carving.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. Grown widely as a fruit and shade tree.
Safety and toxicity
- No common reactions reported
Few reports. Some vague toxicity reports exist for tamarind wood, but no specific reaction is described. Most tamarind on the market is spalted, and spalted dust carries fungal spores that can bother the lungs.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + respirator, especially for spalted wood
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
No specific reactions are well documented. Spalted wood dust carries fungal spores, so wear a good mask.
Tamarind in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Tamarind listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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