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. Rubberwood is commonly advertised as an "environmentally friendly" wood, [2] as it makes use of plantation trees that have already served a useful function. Rubberwood tends to warp and twist in drying, though it is fairly stable in service once seasoned. The rubberwood used in furniture comes from the tree that produces latex. Frequently colored or stained when used in furniture construction. Rubberwood is used as a solid wood, but it's also used for veneer, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. heartwood is can be quite hard nanabana – but its also kinda “bendy” and rubbery, but it comes from the latex tree so it figures. That's because the demand for the wood has caused an increase in the plantations, which often take over virgin rainforests and negatively affect biodiversity in the area. Low natural luster. is it stain resistance. The countries harvesting the wood typically build the furniture then export it for sale rather than exporting the raw wood. Color tends to darken slightly with age. Is it machined into into flooring and is so can it be refinished? Common Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, interior millwork, kitchen woodenware (cutting boards, knife blocks, etc. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Native to Brazil, these trees often grow on plantations with lots of production throughout Asia. Kiln drying helps diffuse those chemicals, but some people prefer to avoid products with harsh chemicals used during processing. Shelley Frost combines her love of DIY and writing in her freelance career. It's a solid wood product that holds up well in furniture. 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? Looking at the characteristics of the wood helps you decide if it's the right type of furniture for your needs. While some rubberwood is FSC certified, most of it isn't. Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a somewhat coarse, open texture. It's similar in color to poplar or pine, so it's light enough to take on a variety of stains and finishes. This can cause some distortion in the wood before it fully dries. Pricing/Availability: Rubberwood is rarely exported in raw lumber form, but is instead worked into a variety of furniture, kitchen, and other household items and then exported and sold elsewhere. It is also susceptible to fungal staining and insect attacks. Odor: Rubberwood has an unpleasant sour odor while being worked, especially when green, which subsides upon drying. But the tree plantations can negatively affect the environment. It's a solid wood product that holds up well in furniture. Copyright © 2008-2020 Eric Meier | All Rights Reserved. It’s hardness is 960 lbf, which puts it on par with walnut, cherry poplar. The wood from a rubber tree is relatively easy to work with, whether you're using power tools or working with it by hand. 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. Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Rubberwood in particular. Color: The color of the rubberwood is whitish and with time the color of rubberwood fades to light brown. They're also called rubber trees, parawood, Asian hardwood, plantation hardwood or Hevea brasiliensis. The light color, often described as light blonde to medium tan, makes rubberwood a popular option for building things. 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. Even though it's used to make rubber, the rubber tree wood isn't actually rubbery. But once it's seasoned, it tends to be stable and offers similar durability to other hardwood materials. Grain & Texture: The rubberwood is medium-textured and it has straight grains. The light color, often described as light blonde to medium tan, makes rubberwood a popular option for building things. Rot Resistance: Rubberwood is perishable, and has very little natural resistance to decay. Rubberwood is also ideal for painted furniture pieces. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; large to very large pores in no specific arrangement, very few; solitary and radial multiples and rows of 2-4; tyloses and heartwood mineral/gum deposits (brown) occasionally present; growth rings usually indistinct; narrow to medium rays barely visible without lens, spacing normal to fairly close; parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates and  banded (reticulate). The trees mature after about nine years. The idea is that using the trees for furniture instead of letting them rot and release carbon into the air is better for the environment. For example, the Thai government is working with the FSC to help smaller rubber tree farmers meet the standards of the organization. I don’t see why not. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Shrinkage: Radial: 2.3%, Tangential: 5.1%, Volumetric: 7.5%, T/R Ratio: 2.2. Rubberwood is a light-colored medium-density tropical hardwood obtained from the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), usually from trees grown in rubber plantations. Sapwood not distinct from heartwood. Budget is often a consideration when buying furniture, which makes rubberwood an appealing option for cost-conscious consumers. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It takes stains and finishes well, which makes it ideal to use in furniture. One of the major selling points of rubberwood furniture is the claim that it's sustainable. Many big-box and home furnishings retailers will have pieces made out of Rubberwood. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Woodworking Network: Rubberwood Bounces Back: Components & Furniture Usage Grows, Furniture Today: Home-Grown Rubberwood Drives Furniture Production, FSC: FSC Welcomes Thai Government's Support on Certifying Rubber Under FSC Certification Scheme. Is rubberwood suitable for kitchen cabinetry; in particular – two (2) lower cabinet columns on either side of the sink? Simplicity Sofas: Is Rubberwood Considered a Good Wood to Use for Furniture. That's when the latex extraction starts, and it continues until latex production starts to slow, usually when the tree is about 25 to 30 years old. 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! Sapwood not distinct from heartwood. Use: It is most suitable for timber projects and woodworking. Color/Appearance: Heartwood naturally a light blonde to medium tan color, sometimes with medium brown streaks. Rubberwood is a growing option in the world of affordable wood furniture. She has first-hand experience with tiling, painting, refinishing hardwood floors, installing lighting, roofing and many other home improvement projects. ), and other small, specialty wood items. It’s used in furniture all the time. It's similar to maple in terms of characteristics but with a more porous structure. Color/Appearance: Heartwood naturally a light blonde to medium tan color, sometimes with medium brown streaks. Amazing sound and great visual effect. Comments: Despite its common name, Rubberwood isn’t any more elastic or soft than comparable hardwoods of similar density/weight. Color tends to darken slightly with age. She keeps her DIY skills fresh with regular projects around the house and extensive writing work on the topic. 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