Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionKeyaki Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Keyaki 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 nameZelkova serrata
Janka hardness1,040 lbf
Average dried weight38.7 lb/ft³
Best fitUsed domestically within its natural range
Overview
Why choose Keyaki?
Keyaki is a domestic hardwood species associated with Japan, Korea, and eastern China. It is useful when the project calls for used domestically within its natural range, usually for decorative purposes such as furniture, carvings, and lacquer works
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 nameZelkova serrata
DistributionJapan, Korea, and eastern China
ShrinkageRadial: ~5%, Tangential: ~8%, Volumetric: ~13%, T/R Ratio: ~1.6* *Shrinkage values are for the subspecies Z.
DurabilityRated as very durable, with good insect resistance.
Keyaki colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is light to medium golden brown, usually distinct from the lighter yellowish brown sapwood. Quartersawn sections can display minute ray fleck patterns due to the wide rays.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain varies from straight to irregular and interlocked.
Working notes
In the shop, easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Turns, glues, and finishes well.
Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with keyaki.
Keyaki should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Keyaki
Best projects
Used domestically within its natural range, usually for decorative purposes such as furniture, carvings, and lacquer works
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 Keyaki 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.
Keyaki FAQ
What is Keyaki best used for?
Keyaki is best considered for used domestically within its natural range, usually for decorative purposes such as furniture, carvings, and lacquer works. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Keyaki 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 Keyaki?
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.