You might have heard of rubber trees. After all, the rubber trees are famous for their production of rubber. Today, rubber has been one of the most sought-after products in the world. However, only a few people are aware of rubberwood. But what is rubberwood?
You will find out a lot of helpful information about rubberwood as you read along with this article. Not only is rubberwood commonly used by many furniture manufacturers, but it is likewise considered one of the top-tier woods in the industry. The magnificence of rubber trees not only remains on its rubber latex but on its wood as well.
What is Rubberwood?
Rubberwood is the aftermath of a rubber tree squeezed for years until the last drop of rubber dropped out of its bark. After a long run that reaches up to thirty years, the rubber trees that no longer produce the rubber latex get chopped down into woodblocks. It now becomes the rubberwood.
The rubberwood is considered low-cost. It first started as a cheaper alternative to some of the quality woods in the industry. It gets set up as an alternative. Now, it becomes one of the top choices of many manufacturers.
However, some might get the idea that rubberwood is a wood made of rubber or an artificial wood made by science. Yet, it a wood from a real tree. Like hardwood, it has its texture, density, weight, and hardness. In some other countries, they call rubberwood Malaysian oak.
What makes rubberwood a staple choice is its variety. The finished products compose of options with different finishes and colors. Without treatments and preservatives, rubberwood isn’t as durable. However, thanks to science, rubberwood can now be used even for outdoor wood projects.
The pure rubberwood has a light blonde shade. Once exposed to the chemicals and the light, it gets darker until it turns brown with a hint of pink. They coat the rubberwood with color stained when used by the furniture industry.
Good Quality Rubberwood Uses
The excellent quality rubber woods won’t stay unsold for a very long time. Rubberwood turns into desks, chairs, and cabinets. These get sold in the market quickly. Kitchenware such as knife blocks and cutting boards made of rubberwood are best-sellers as well. The high demand for rubberwood products is evident.
Not only that, in the past few years, notable works are done using rubberwood. These works include rubber wood floors. The furniture you see as interior design is any offices, houses, or even display rooms are from rubberwood.
Shelves that line the wall or the wooden chairs either inside or outside are from rubberwood as well. Rubberwood is resistant to mold and fights off termites, making it ideal for any outdoor furniture. Other
There are several reasons why rubberwood becomes their top choice. For instance, rubberwood is easy to cut. You can easily cut it using a regular saw or a powerful machine. It has a smooth surface that doesn’t need any alterations or finishing touches.
When the kiln or the drying process takes place, the magic happens. The manufacturers can easily take control of the density grain of the rubberwood. It means that, in a way, manufacturers can control the quality of the rubberwood.
The Pros of Using Rubberwood
There are different advantages you’ll get when you use rubberwood.
- Durable
Rubberwood’s durability doesn’t fall short compared to other hardwoods. A well-maintained rubberwood can last more than 15 years before it starts to wear and decay. It is not a bad investment considering the second reason.
- Low Cost
As a byproduct, rubberwood costs less compared to other hardwoods. Others call it an economical wood. Thus, rubberwood has become the favorite alternative of many manufacturers. It is true, especially when the more expensive options aren’t suitable for the product they want to make.
- Easy to Work
Rubberwood cuts easily either by use of a power tool or by hand. Yet, it also works well with other woodworking essentials. Either you want to glue, nail or turn the rubberwood, you won’t have a challenging experience. It absorbs paint and dries quickly as well.
It also is a plus that rubberwood looks astounding after the drying procedure. It turns a shade darker, giving it that simple yet captivating look. It almost has the same color as cherry or oak wood. It doesn’t need that much to make it more appealing.
- Fire-resistant and Eco-friendly
Rubberwood is naturally fire-resistant. It will get lesser damage from burns, unlike other solid hardwood. The burning fumes are not toxic as well. Another reason why it’s eco-friendly is that it is a sustainable product.
Instead of leaving rubber trees to rot and letting them exhumed too much carbon dioxide, harvesting them at the end of the rubber latex production is a sustainable way to keep the cycle going.
The Cons of Using Rubberwood
There are different cons as well. Here are as follows:
- First, rubberwood is cheap. However, it isn’t the most affordable alternative in the market. You can get other wood, such as pine or oak, at a more affordable price than rubberwood.
- Second, rubberwood may not be hard enough to avoid dents. Since it only has a moderate level for its hardness, the harsh impact may cause the rubberwood to dent. Also, rubberwood is slippery when wet. So, the kiln drying process is remarkably crucial. Be careful with the grease getting in contact with rubberwood as well.
- Third, the rubberwood may appear smaller compared to other hardwood. Due to its small size, it could be an issue when you want to try projects that require much bigger woods.
Conclusion
By now, you probably know the answer to the question, what is rubberwood? True enough, rubberwood is one of the best wood choices out there. If you are looking for an eco-friendlier and more sustainable product, It is worth investing in one piece of furniture or two made of rubberwood.
Thus, when you select the next wood to use for your new furniture, try checking out the rubberwood and see if it passes your set standards.
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