Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionKempas Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Kempas is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameKoompassia malaccensis
Janka hardness1,750 lbf
Average dried weight55 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose Kempas?
Kempas is a domestic hardwood species associated with Malaysia and Indonesia. It is useful when the project calls for flooring, heavy construction, railroad crossties, plywood, and pallets (throughout its natural range)
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameKoompassia malaccensis
DistributionMalaysia and Indonesia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.1%, Tangential: 6.7%, Volumetric: 13.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.3
DurabilityHeartwood is rated as moderately durable to durable regarding decay resistance.
Kempas colour, grain, and figure
Expect kempas tends to be an orangish-brown, with an overall mahogany-like appearance.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: kempas has a medium to coarse open texture. The grain is interlocked and sometimes wavy.
Working notes
In the shop, kempas is considered to be a difficult timber to work on account of both its density and its interlocked grain. Also, sections of the wood may contain stone-like streaks of brittle areas, which can have a blunting effect on cutting edges, and make machining difficult.
Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Kempas.
Kempas should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Kempas
Best projects
Flooring, heavy construction, railroad crossties, plywood, and pallets (throughout its natural range)
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Kempas from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Kempas FAQ
What is Kempas best used for?
Kempas is best considered for flooring, heavy construction, railroad crossties, plywood, and pallets (throughout its natural range). Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Kempas beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Kempas?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.