Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Zelkova serrata Trade Name Keyaki Family Name Ulmaceae Synonyms Zelkova hirta, Zelkova keaki Common Names Japanese zelkova , Keaki, Keyaki, Kilkova, Neuti, Zelkova Regions of Distribution North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] China, Japan, United States Common Uses Balusters, Boat building (general), Boat building, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Ornamental work , Paneling, Tool handles Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Native to Japan, but has been cultivated successfully across the United States. It prefers to grow in moist soils in humid temperate regions. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Yellowish brown to brown or light golden brown Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown White to yellowish-white White to yellow Grain Figure Closed Even Irregular Straight Wavy Variable (figure) Wavy Variable figure Straight Straight to irregular grain Irregular Texture Fine Fine Coarse Luster Medium Natural sheen Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Non-durable Very durable Naturally resistant to attack by decay fungi and insects Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Distortion No twisting or warping May distort during drying Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Seasons rapidly with minimal degrade under controlled conditions Air drying before kiln-drying is recommended to prevent undue shrinkage Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bark width is 10-15 mm Bole length is 0-10 m Product Sources Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Keyaki is used for the construction and maintenance of temples in China and Japan, and is protected for those uses only. Resistance to Dutch elm disease Similar to elms, and has been suggestes as a substitute for American elm (U. americana) Used for construction and maintenance of temples and is protected for only those uses Blunting Effect Moderate dulling effect on cutting edges Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Saws well Low cutting resistance Gluing Satisfactory gluing properties Movement in Service Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning Medium movement after manufacture Nailing Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Yields clean surfaces in planing, turning, boring and other machining operations Saws readily although it is hard and tough Responds rather well to ordinary machine tools Resistance to Impregnation Moderately difficult to treat with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Yields clean surfaces Responds well to hand tools Sanding Good sanding properties Screwing Responds well to screwing Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Very large burrs that yield highly figured wood, with features like a delicate bird's eyes outlined with fine fringes and prominent rays There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Good steam bending properties Polishing Fair to Good Results Yields a smooth and excellent finish Strength Properties High in density Heavy Hardness = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Crushing strength = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is high - comparable to Teak. Some familiar species with high crushing strength parallel to grain include Hard maple, Teak, and White oak. It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12990 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1044 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7404 psi Shearing Strength 1475 psi Stiffness 1671 1000 psi Toughness 147 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.6 Weight 39 31 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 913 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Hardness 473 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 520 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 103 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 169 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.6 References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No.5 Philippines and Japan,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Chun, W.Y.,1921,Chinese Economic Trees,Commercial Press Ltd, Shangai, China Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Japan Forest Technical Association,1964,Illustrated Important Forest Trees of Japan,Chikyu Shuppan Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan Kloot, N.H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organization (CSIRO, Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 12, Melbourne, Australia. Lee, S.C.,1935,Forest Botany of China,Commercial Press Ltd, Shanghai, China Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Mizumoto, S.,1968,On the relative durability of some broad-leaved woods to fungal attack,Journal of the Japanese Wood Research Society 14(8) pp434-439