Wood Species
Kempas
Koompassia malaccensis
- Janka hardness
- 1750 lbf
- Specific gravity
- 0.8
- Workability
- Difficult — dense with interlocked grain and stone-like silica deposits; can corrode metal slightly
Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis) is a Southeast Asian hardwood with an orangish-brown, mahogany-adjacent look, widely used in flooring where hardness at a relatively low cost makes it a real competitor to pricier tropical species.
Working Properties
Kempas stacks high density on top of interlocked grain, which adds up to genuinely difficult machining. Some sections carry stone-like streaks of brittle mineral deposits that take a real toll on cutting edges. It's even slightly acidic, enough to corrode metal tools over prolonged contact — though it takes stain and finish without complaint once you're done fighting it.
Typical Uses
Flooring (its dominant use), heavy construction, railroad crossties, plywood, and pallets.
Images
Raw Wood: A board of Kempas -- warm orange-brown to reddish-brown heartwood, straight grain, moderate luster.