Choosing the right type of wood for your Kumiko pattern makes it much easier and more enjoyable.
When I made my first Kumiko pattern, I didn't ask myself this question and started with oak. I'll explain why that was a bad idea in a minute.
Traditionally, Japanese kumiko work is made from Japanese cedar or Japanese cypress, but not everyone living in Japan has access to it. Nor does it have the right color for every project.
Here I'll write a little about the best wood for making kumiko. Although there's no clear answer to this question. As always, it depends...
In general, you should use boards with straight, dense grain and as little color variation as possible. Because the kumiko pattern itself is visually striking, the smooth grain creates a more uniform and harmonious appearance. If your filler pieces have different shades, the chamfered corners will be clearly visible, and the kumiko will appear like a collection of randomly thrown-together stripes rather than a clean pattern.
Another important consideration is the hardness of the wood. Softer wood will give slightly when the pieces are joined. Hardwoods like oak, on the other hand, barely give, making it more difficult to create a clean pattern. That's exactly what happened to me. Choosing oak for my first-ever pattern made it significantly more difficult.
When choosing the wood, you should also make sure to choose a type of wood that is easy to work with and does not splinter too easily.
With these facts in mind, here are some wood species you can start with.
The most popular wood for kumiko is currently basswood. It performs well in all three of the above-mentioned factors, is a great wood for hand carving, and is relatively inexpensive compared to other hardwoods.
Another good choice is pine, which is similar to linden wood.
My favorite wood for kumiko is whitewood (Yellow Popular). My lumber dealer didn't have enough basswood, and I told them what I wanted to use it for. They suggested whitewood, and I tried it. I haven't regretted that decision. It was so easy to work with, and the kumiko turned out so well. Plus, the availability and selection of whitewood at my lumber dealer is pretty good, making it perfect for me.
Especially if you want to use contrasting wood species in a kumiko panel or match the color of other components in your piece, you should also consider other wood species. Cherry, oak, walnut, and mahogany are also good woods for kumiko. However, because they are significantly harder, they are less forgiving, much more difficult to work with, and it's more challenging to achieve a beautiful kumiko pattern without gaps.
Summary
You need a wood species that combines well, as well as boards with few blemishes, minimal color differences, and straight grain.
Basswood, whitewood, and pine are great woods for beginners in kumiko. Cherry, oak, walnut, and mahogany may be necessary due to their color, but they are more challenging to work with.
Get your Kumiko Starter Set now
In the shop you will find Kumiko kits and starter sets, as well as strips for your Kumiko project.