Eco-Friendly Wood Furniture

Rubberwood was originally discovered by early explorers during the early 1600's in Brazil. The indigenous tribes would make sport balls for the sap of the trees. The explorers were intrigued by the properties and took seeds with them when they returned to Europe. Over time, rubber trees were being grown in European colonies within Asia. They were also grown in Vietnam, Thailand, and Hynan.

Rubber trees are similar to many of the maples because it is a sap producing tree that produces rubber. In the past once a rubber tree had been tapped of all the rubber it could, the tree would be burned because it was considered to be useless. Things have changed in recent years. As a farmed lumber, rubber would is very sustainable and is considered to be one of them ecologically friendly lumber to use in the modern furniture industry. Most other woods are made from trees that are cut down just to make furniture, but Rubberwood is harvested only after it completes the cycle of producing latex and dies. Most rubber trees produce latex for 18-25 years before dying.

Rubberwood is one of most eco-friendly of all woods. No part of the farm grown tree goes to waste during its lifecycle. Rubberwood is harvested from the Para rubber tree. Rubberwood is called parawood in Thailand and is used to make high end furniture pieces. It is desirable because of its attractive color, dense grain, and minimal shrinkage. It is well know for its acceptance of a variety of finishes. It is prized because it is an environmentally friendly wood that is not used until the tree quits producing latex. Rubberwood is one of most misunderstood types of wood that is being used in the furniture industry. The mere name of the rubberwood often invokes a number of misconceptions in regards to its durability and features.

It is considered to be one of the most durable hardwood lumbers to be used for manufacturing home furnishings. Rubberwood is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and features a very dense grain that is controlled easily with a kiln drying process. It has minimal shrinkage and is one of the most stable materials used in the construction of home furnishings. Rubberwood easily accepts different kinds of finishes and can be made to look like oak, rosewood, or other expensive types of lumber. This often causes some confusion when trying to identify the type of wood used for some furniture.

The process of Vulcanization was eventually perfected and it prevented rubber from rotting. This made it possible to increase the production of rubber for use in bicycle tires. As time passed rubber usage increased, calling for massive production of rubber. Eventually, America began to replace rubber tires with tires made from synthetic materials which caused the use of rubber to begin to drop. It wasn't until 1960 that the hidden resource of Rubberwood was discovered. It was found to be nearly as hard as oak with lovely grain patterns.

Rubberwood is finished exactly as any other fine hardwood is. The secret to any finish is even sanding of the surface. A lighter finish is achieved from surfaces that have a very smooth sanded surface. When staining Rubberwood you want the surface to be very smooth. Any spots that aren't perfectly smooth with soak up more stain than smoother areas and end up looking darker. Use your hands rather than your eyes when sanding the Rubberwood. Run your hands over it thoroughly to determine if there any spots that need additional sanding. And remember, always sand with the grain in order to achieve a beautiful finish for your lovely Rubberwood furniture.

Wood Dining Room Furniture
Eco-friendly solid wood furniture not only looks great in your home, but it's built to last for generations.