Plantation Grown Rubberwood

The tribes who lived there at that time made sport balls from the sap of the trees and the explorers who were fascinated by the properties of the plant decided to take the seeds back to Europe. Rubber trees grew well in the European colonies in Asia, French Indo China, Thailand and Hynan Islands off the coast of China.

Just like many maples, rubberwood is a species which produces sap and following on from the useful economic lifespan of rubber tapping, in days of old the tree was burned as it was considered to be useless. As a lumber which is farmed its sustainability is paramount and in the modern day it is without doubt the most ecologically friendly material used in the manufacture of furniture. Rubberwood is different to other woods which are cut down purely to make furniture in that it is only considered usable after completing its latex producing cycle, at which point it dies. This usually takes between eighteen and twenty five years. This naturally makes this kind of wood eco-friendly in almost every sense of the word as there is no part of the farmed tree going to waste prior to its full life cycle has taken place.

Rubberwood is wood from the Para rubber tree, its official name being Hevea brasiliensis, although it is offered referred to as the rubber tree. In Thailand it is also called parawood and it is used in high quality furniture manufacture as particular value is paid to its dense grain, its beautiful coloring, the fact that it does not shrink very much and the way in which it accepts different finishes. Rubberwood is quite often mistaken for other kinds of wood which is utilized in the industry of furniture manufacture.

The name rubberwood suggests a variety of misconceptions as to its durability and features, yet it is one of the most durable hardwoods used during the last ten years in the making of furnishings. Rubberwood comes from the Euphorbiaceae family and during the kiln drying process its dense grain is controlled. There is very little shrinkage takes place which makes it a stable material for the manufacture of furniture. It accepts several different kinds of wood color finishes and can give the appearance of rosewood and oak along with many other expensive looking lumbers. This is what causes the confusion when difficulty is encountered in an attempt to identify a particular kind of wood used in furniture.

Upon the perfection of vulcanization which stopped the rubber from rotting, production was increased to make bicycle tires. When motor cars came on the scene a huge increase in tires were required. With World War 11 so many more tires were needed that America turned to the use of synthetic materials and this saw a drop in the production of rubber tires. Production continued to fall until around 1960 when it was discovered just how great rubberwood was for making furniture. Its hardness and ingrain patterns made it extremely popular.

These days rubber from rubber trees is used mostly to make erasers, condoms and rubber gloves.

The way rubberwood is finished is no different to that of any other fine hardwood. The surface is sanded and the smoother this is done the lighter the finished result. To make a closer inspection of the surface, it is best to use your hands instead of your eyes. Gently feel the whole surface for rough areas. The rougher spots will stain more darkly than the smooth surrounding areas. You can sand using a clean hand or a sanding block. If you use a 150 grit technique it does not take long to do, but you must remember to sand with the grain not against it.

Leon Tuberman has spent decades in the furniture industry and owns a solid wood furniture store that specializes in heirlom quality American made bedroom, living room, home and dining room furniture that will last for generations.