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Rubberwood For Furniture – Rubberwood is widely acknowledged as an environmentally friendly type of wood. Plantation plants that have previously fulfilled a meaningful and legal purpose are recycled.
This tree, which belongs to the maple family, is frequently used to carve furniture and other wooden objects. It is well known that this wood is extremely durable. Rubberwood has a lifespan of 100 years and can grow up to 40 metres in height on plains and 100 feet in the wild. The main growing areas for this tree are South America, Africa, and Asia.
A rubber tree, commonly known as rubberwood, can only be developed to harvest rubber after reaching the age of six.
One of the best types of wood for making furniture is rubberwood. It is a fantastic option for industrial cabinets, platters, carving, and other applications due to its flexibility and strength. Given that it can also be used to gather rubber, this tree has become a commercially important crop throughout Asia and Africa.
More durable than soft maple is rubberwood. It is straw-colored and has brown stripes. The sapwood and the heartwood don’t differ in colour in any noticeable way. The texture of rubberwood is rough and direct.
This wood can be used outside even if it has undergone chemical treatment to give it a more solid appearance. The large pore size of this wood may make the appearance rough, yet it works nicely within.
What is Rubberwood?
You’re right, rubberwood is a hybridised form of elastic wood. That is not true. The Pará rubber tree is harvested to produce rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis). Asia, Africa, and South America are where you may find the most of these trees.
In Pará, rubber trees are tapped for latex and harvested for rubberwood lumber when their useful lives are over. Rubberwood is regarded as a “eco-friendly” wood as a result.
But how does it stack up against other types of wood as a material for furniture? Should you spend money on rubberwood products? Let’s examine the benefits and drawbacks of using rubberwood only for furniture.
Pros of Using Rubberwood for Furniture:
Environmental
According to WWF, almost 10% of the world’s forests are cut down each year to make way for fast-wood forests. Cutting down trees at a faster rate than they grow can have disastrous consequences for the ecosystem.
Soil erosion, landslides, and flooding are all possible outcomes. Furthermore, it hastens the impacts of global warming. Rubberwood harvesting can mitigate these effects because it uses trees that otherwise would have been burnt.
Sturdy
Rubberwood may not be as flexible as you may assume, contrary to the popular notions in the West. It’s a tough hardwood that belongs to the maple family.
It has a strength of 9500 pounds per square inch, a stiffness of 1.3 million pounds per square inch, and a toughness of 500 pounds per square inch.
Expense
Rubberwood sells for less than other wood since it is frequently thought of as a byproduct. Because most people believe that rubberwood isn’t a long-lasting material, they choose oak, maple, or cherry.
Furniture-friendly
Processed rubberwood is extremely stable, with no shrinkage and breaking, making it ideal for furnishings. Rubberwood also has a beautiful golden to medium tan tint.
It is stain resistant
Rubberwood is a versatile wood that absorbs stains and treatments well. This is especially useful if you want to customise its look to match your preferences and the environment.
Cons of Using Rubberwood for Furniture:
Scarce
Rubberwood is a fragile material with a high proclivity for degradation. It’s also vulnerable to fungal stains and insect infestations. To counteract these effects, it must be subjected to a number of severe harsh chemicals, which may be off-putting to some.
Allergies to latex are possible
Rubberwood may not be suitable for people who are allergic to latex. There have been reports of persons developing an allergic response to rubberwood when dealing with it.
Rubberwood for Furniture – Twisting and warping
Rubberwood has a tendency to twist and bend while curing, leading it to distort before it is completely dry. It can, however, become exceedingly resilient and solid after being seasoned.
Isn’t it perfect for the outdoors?
Rubberwood absorbs a lot of moisture. When you put it outside, it deteriorates more quickly as a result of this. As a result, rubberwood furniture should be kept indoors or in a less humid climate.
