When you're looking for solid wood furniture, you have several different choices for the actual wood material. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. But the tree plantations can negatively affect the environment. Color tends to darken slightly with age. For example, the Thai government is working with the FSC to help smaller rubber tree farmers meet the standards of the organization. Budget is often a consideration when buying furniture, which makes rubberwood an appealing option for cost-conscious consumers. is this a hard of softer wood Many big-box and home furnishings retailers will have pieces made out of Rubberwood. Rubberwood is commonly advertised as an "environmentally friendly" wood, [2] as it makes use of plantation trees that have already served a useful function. While some rubberwood is FSC certified, most of it isn't. Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. Rubberwood is seen on a wide variety of (mostly inexpensive) Asian imported furniture. Comments: Despite its common name, Rubberwood isn’t any more elastic or soft than comparable hardwoods of similar density/weight. Color/Appearance: Heartwood naturally a light blonde to medium tan color, sometimes with medium brown streaks. Color/Appearance: Heartwood naturally a light blonde to medium tan color, sometimes with medium brown streaks. They're also called rubber trees, parawood, Asian hardwood, plantation hardwood or Hevea brasiliensis. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Rubberwood lumber is typically taken from rubber plantations where the trees are tapped for latex, and harvested at the end of their useful life cycle—typically after about thirty years. Use: It is most suitable for timber projects and woodworking. It's also a cost-effective option, which means the finished furniture pieces tend to be more affordable than other hardwood options. Anyone know how well the vinegar and steelwool stain works on the Parawood? The Forest Stewardship Council is working with some countries to try to increase certification of rubber trees. Shelley Frost combines her love of DIY and writing in her freelance career. Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a somewhat coarse, open texture. She keeps her DIY skills fresh with regular projects around the house and extensive writing work on the topic. Color tends to darken slightly with age. Rubberwood is a growing option in the world of affordable wood furniture. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Rubberwood is a little on the coarse side with an open texture and a straight grain. Common Name(s): Rubberwood, Plantation Hardwood, Para Rubbertree, Distribution: Native to Brazil, but extensively cultivated in tropical regions, especially in Asia, Tree Size: 75-100 ft (23-30 m) tall, 1-3 ft (.3-1 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 37 lbs/ft3 (595 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .49, .59, Modulus of Rupture: 10,420 lbf/in2 (71.9 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,314,000lbf/in2 (9.07 GPa), Crushing Strength: 6,110 lbf/in2 (42.1 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 2.3%, Tangential: 5.1%, Volumetric: 7.5%, T/R Ratio: 2.2. When it's no longer useful for latex production, the tree gets harvested for other purposes, including furniture. What is the acoustic properties of rubberwood?can you share it? All the percussion industry worldwide use hevea brasiliensis wood for congas, bongos and batás factoring. It’s used in furniture all the time. Glues, stains, and finishes well. maybe similar to walnut in hardness, but the woods are much different in characteristics, (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). Amazing sound and great visual effect. The rubberwood used in furniture comes from the tree that produces latex. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! Looking at the characteristics of the wood helps you decide if it's the right type of furniture for your needs. This can cause some distortion in the wood before it fully dries. It's similar in color to poplar or pine, so it's light enough to take on a variety of stains and finishes. Color: The color of the rubberwood is whitish and with time the color of rubberwood fades to light brown. She has first-hand experience with tiling, painting, refinishing hardwood floors, installing lighting, roofing and many other home improvement projects. Would you recommend using it as a cutting board?Is it safe? Sapwood not distinct from heartwood. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Is rubberwood suitable for kitchen cabinetry; in particular – two (2) lower cabinet columns on either side of the sink? Looking at the characteristics of this furniture-building material helps you decide if it's the best option for your next furniture purchase. Kiln drying helps diffuse those chemicals, but some people prefer to avoid products with harsh chemicals used during processing. It's a solid wood product that holds up well in furniture. It is also susceptible to fungal staining and insect attacks. Frequently colored or stained when used in furniture construction. However, individuals with natural latex or rubber allergies may have reactions to Rubberwood. These plantations also use lots of water for irrigation, introduce chemicals into the environment and may increase erosion. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? The light color, often described as light blonde to medium tan, makes rubberwood a popular option for building things. One drawback of rubberwood is its tendency to warp and twist while it's drying. It says right at the top of the page—that’s the whole point of this website! Rot Resistance: Rubberwood is perishable, and has very little natural resistance to decay. Sapwood not distinct from heartwood. It's similar in color to poplar or pine, so it's light enough to take on a variety of stains and finishes. The rubber wood when saw has a light blonde to medium color but after it has been exposed to light and kiln drying process, it turns darker with medium brown streaks and pinkish tints. Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, interior millwork, kitchen woodenware (cutting boards, knife blocks, etc. The wood from a rubber tree is relatively easy to work with, whether you're using power tools or working with it by hand.

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