Mansonia

Overview

Mansonia (Mansonia altissima) is a yellowish or grayish brown wood, mostly bland, that is sometimes used as a black walnut alternative. It is easy to work and very durable, but Wood Database puts it among the worst woods for toxicity and allergic reactions.

Pros

• Very durable, resistant to termites and insects.
• Easy to work; glues, turns and finishes well, and steam bends well.
• Janka 1,390 lbf, about 660 kg/m3.
• IUCN Least Concern.
• Occasionally used in place of black walnut.

Cons

• Wood Database lists it as one of the worst woods for toxicity and the commonness of allergic reactions.
• Dust reactions include nausea, giddiness, nosebleeds, infected splinters and asthma-like symptoms.
• Wood Database reports the bark and heartwood contain cardiac poisons.
• Colour lightens and fades with light.
• Seldom seen in North America.

Variants and subspecies

• Mansonia altissima: the single species.
• Substitute: Black walnut, a safer dark wood.

Working and finishing

Easy to work, but the health risk is the main factor: use extraction, a good respirator, gloves and avoid breathing dust.

Staining and finishing colour

Colour lightens and fades with light exposure. Takes finishes well.

Sustainability and handling

CITES: not listed (Wood Database; APHIS CITES Timber Species Manual, checked 2026-09-30). IUCN: Least Concern (Wood Database). FSC availability is not verified here. The US Lacey Act makes it unlawful to trade wood taken or exported in breach of the source country's laws (fws.gov/law/lacey-act), so buy from dealers who can name the country and species. If a piece will be exported to or sold in the EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (the EUDR) requires due-diligence evidence that wood products are deforestation-free and legally produced; check its current application date with your buyer.

Ethical call: fine for sourcing, but a poor choice for health reasons; Black walnut is easier on the shop. Health: one of the worst timbers for toxicity and allergy; reactions include nausea, giddiness, sneezing, headaches, nosebleeds, infected splinters and asthma-like symptoms, and Wood Database reports cardiac poisons in the bark and heartwood. The US National Cancer Institute reports strong, consistent associations between wood-dust exposure and cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses, so use extraction and a respirator when sanding.

Popular projects

Veneer, cabinetry, furniture, boat parts and turned objects.

Buying notes

Mostly veneer, sometimes boards. The price here is an estimate. Hobbyists should avoid it.