Karri has a heartwood with a golden to reddish brown color which will darken with age. The sapwood is a grayish white color. The grain is interlocked and it has a medium to coarse uniform texture. The end grain is diffuse-porous. Karri is rated as durable to moderately durable in regards to decay. The wood is somewhat difficult to work with because of its density. It also has a blunting effect on cutters, but it does glue and finish well.