Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionKeruing Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Keruing 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 nameDipterocarpus spp.
Janka hardness1,390 lbf
Average dried weight46 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Keruing?
Keruing is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Southeast Asia. It is useful when the project calls for furniture, flooring, trailer decks, and utility lumber
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 nameDipterocarpus spp.
DistributionSoutheast Asia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.5%, Tangential: 10.8%, Volumetric: 16.3%, T/R Ratio: 2.0
DurabilityVaries depending on species, though generally reported as moderately durable; moderate to poor insect resistance.
Keruing colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood ranges from a light to medium yellowish brown to a darker reddish brown. Overall appearance and grain patterning is rather homogenous and bland.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is generally straight to slightly interlocked. With a medium to coarse texture and moderate natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, generally easy to work with hand or machine tools, though silica present in the wood tends to dull cutters. Also, resin can exude from the wood and build up on tools and also make wood finishing difficult.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Keruing has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Keruing should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Keruing
Best projects
Furniture, flooring, trailer decks, and utility lumber
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 Keruing 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.
Keruing FAQ
What is Keruing best used for?
Keruing is best considered for furniture, flooring, trailer decks, and utility lumber. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Keruing 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 Keruing?
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.