Rubberwood is a medium-density light-colored wood that belongs to the maple wood family. It is not rubbery. Rubberwood is a hardwood with lots of exceptional qualities that are important in building components provides at low cost.
Therefore, many woodworkers tend to move towards rubberwood for different woodworking projects. So, let’s figure out, Is Rubberwood good for furniture?
Yes, Rubberwood is good for furniture because of its high durability, low cost, and high stability against cracks and shrinkages. But Rubberwood is not good for outdoor furniture due to its high moisture absorbance. Rubberwood is a strong, flexible, medium-density hardwood that is ideal for making commercial furniture like cabinetry, carvings, and more.
But that’s a quick snapshot.
So, in this article, we’ll explore whether is rubberwood good for furniture by considering its pros and cons, examples for rubberwood furniture, rubberwood furniture care, maintenance tips, and much more.
Furthermore, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions about using rubberwood for furniture as well.
Study table!
— • LUK AH SENG • KO8 • 👽✨ (@LukAhSeng_) October 13, 2020
52” x 24”
Rubberwood pic.twitter.com/lacZ0xoQzO
How Rubberwood Use in Furniture?
Rubberwood can be used pretty much for any furniture. It is flexible but not elastic as it sounds. Rubberwood is a medium-density hardwood same as maple and ash.
Because of providing excellent furniture-making qualities for a cheaper price, rubberwood is popular for making commercial cabinetry, carvings, and trays.
Rubberwood has a light blonde to medium tan color that adds a unique modern look to your furniture.
Rubberwood color tends to get darker with age.
Therefore, staining and regular maintenance are needful for the rubberwood furniture.
Rubberwood is mostly straight-grained wood with sight coarse and open structure with low luster.
Heartwood and sapwood are difficult to separate because their appearance is almost the same.
Rubberwood is an environmental-friendly lightwood with a vertical fiber vessel structure that adds character to the wood.
Rubberwood is easy to work with due to its high machinability and user-friendliness.
As you can see, Rubberwood is an excellent choice for furniture making. This is why it has become so popular in the woodworking world.
Despite being a quality wood for furniture making, rubberwood is susceptible to insect attacks and prone to twists and warp.
Plus, rubberwood has high moisture absorbance which is not a wise choice for outdoor furniture.
Therefore, you need to have deep knowledge before working with rubberwood to avoid making mistakes.
Goodbye 12 year old ikea.
— Jay✨ (@jaystarfire) May 30, 2019
Hello new rubberwood.
Time to build. 🔧 pic.twitter.com/ctMF34GFVg
Rubberwood Furniture
- Cabinets
- Tables
- Chairs
- Cutting boards
- Butcher blocks
- Shelves
- Furniture parts
- Window frames
- Carvings
As you can see, rubberwood can use for any woodworking project.
Rubberwood is a cheap user-friendly wood with good density and strength. Plus, it adds a unique aesthetic look to your home and workplace.
Recyled rubberwood stool frame with hand woven and dyed rattan splint seat. With a glass top it could be used as a table maybe?#shopindie #UKGiftAM #Dorset #Craftsupplies pic.twitter.com/SlqPAZfN47
— Kim (@Formerglories) August 18, 2019
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Rubberwood for Furniture
As we already know, rubberwood is one of the best woods for furniture. But you should know what the benefits and disadvantages are you’ll get by using rubberwood compared to other woods.
Because using rubberwood or not for your furniture completely depends on personal preferences and application type.
Tip:
For example, if you’re looking for wood with extremely high strength and the price tag is not a matter, better to skip rubberwood and go for a luxury wood like blackwood.
But if you’re looking for a wood that gives excellent properties for an affordable price, rubberwood is an option you should consider.
You can sort out most of your questions regarding rubberwood by looking at its advantages and disadvantages for making furniture which is displayed below.
| Pros | Cons |
| Scratch resistant | Susceptible to insect attacks |
| Affordable | Discoloration happens with age |
| Easy to work with | Warp and twist easily |
| Beautiful | No water resistance |
| High durability | Less in quality |
| High dimensional stability | Decay quickly |
| Hardwood | Poor weather resistance |
| Moderate density | Take a lot of time to stain |
| Sustainable | Slippery wood with water |
| Lightweight | Need chemical treatment before drying |
| Fire resistant | Not good for high-end furniture |
| Take stain well | Can cause latex allergy |
As you can see rubberwood is clearly not good for outdoor furniture.
But with proper finishing and regular maintenance, you’ll be able to keep rubber furniture nice and fresh for a long time.
An ethically sourced fair trade console table. This beautiful console table is exquisitely hand carved from environmentally friendly rubberwood by skilled artisans. Its compact dimensions make it a perfect addition to hallways. pic.twitter.com/6JSZFLj1yU
— Fairtrade Lifestyle (@FairtradeLifes1) March 6, 2020
Is Rubberwood Good for Indoor Furniture?
Yes, rubber is good for indoor furniture because it is beautiful, scratch resistant, fire resistant, and lightweight.
Rubberwood has a moderate density, and it has good resistance against cracks and shrinkages.
Even though it takes a lot of time to stain, rubberwood accepts stain so well. With proper staining and maintenance, you’ll be able to keep rubberwood indoor furniture for a long time.
Because of having a good scratch resistance, rubberwood can withstand foot traffic. Therefore, rubberwood is widely used for flooring.
According to the Janaka hardness ratings, Rubberwood has a hardness rating of 995 lbf (4,426 N) which is significantly harder than most softwoods and some hardwoods as well.
Therefore, rubberwood indoor furniture has excellent durability and high scratch resistance as well.
Rubberwood is cost efficient and with all its qualities rubberwood is well worth its price.
This is why it has become a commercial furniture building material.
On the other hand, rubberwood soaks up water like a sponge. Therefore, moisture easily penetrates through rubberwood fibers and lets them rot.
To stop the absorption of moisture you should stain and seal the wood properly before using it.
Even with proper sealing, I do not recommend you use rubberwood for extreme moisture environments such as bathroom furniture and stuff.
Rubberwood Indoor Furniture
- Cabinets
- Dining tables
- Tables and chairs
- Carvings
- Flooring
- Drawers
- Window frames
As you can see rubberwood can use pretty much for any interior furniture except for high moisture environments like bathrooms.
Smart and compact, this rubberwood dining set is big on style without breaking your budget #BrilliantBuys pic.twitter.com/DrMpoBDOL0
— Home Centre (@askhomecentre) April 14, 2013
So, let’s see how it goes with exterior furniture.
Is Rubberwood Good for Outdoor Furniture?
Unfortunately, rubberwood is not the best wood for outdoor furniture because it soaks up moisture like a sponge and decays quickly.
With proper finishing and sealing, you’ll be able to use rubberwood for outdoor furniture, but it needs regular maintenance and proper caring.
Rubberwood is susceptible to insect and bug attacks. Beetles, termites, and borers love to dig into the wood and make their nests.
Therefore, your rubberwood outdoor furniture will get damaged quickly.
Rubberwood loses its light color beautiful tan with age because of the sunlight. It darkens with age because of direct sunlight and UV light.
Therefore, rubberwood furniture cannot be placed in areas with direct sunlight. It cannot be used in dry and hot climates as well.
Rubberwood has no resistance from dents. By treating it with heat and steam you’ll be able to get rid of dents, but it needs a lot of time and effort to clean the wood.
Rubberwood is a heavily treated wood with lots of chemicals and a long seasoning process.
Because of those chemicals, rubberwood cannot be used for making birdhouses and cages. You’ll probably have to go for other options.
Apart from the above disadvantages of using rubber wood for outdoor furniture, rubberwood is an excellent wood to work with. It is affordable and beautiful.
By properly sealing the rubberwood furniture and making sure it won’t get impacted by harsh weather conditions, you are good to give it try using rubberwood furniture outside.
Bring the furniture inside under extreme cold or hot seasons.
Here’s some common outdoor furniture of rubberwood that should use with regular maintenance.
Rubberwood Outdoor Furniture
- Patio
- Outdoor seats
- Patio dining chair
Rubberwood Furniture Care and Maintenance
Rubberwood furniture needs regular maintenance and proper caring because they are susceptible to insect attacks, and they soak up moisture fast and cause woot to rot.
To prevent that happen you need to stay focused on your rubberwood furniture to prolong their lives.
Here’re the things you should do to protect rubberwood from environmental elements with proper caring,
- Apply proper sealer periodically
- Clean the wood regularly
- Oil the rubberwood furniture periodically
- Keep away from extreme cold and heat
So, let’s discuss each of the above methods to get an idea about how to maintain rubber furniture properly without getting things messed up.
1. Apply Proper Sealer Periodically
Rubberwood takes stain so well, but it takes lots of time to dry after applying the stain. With proper sealing and staining, you’ll be able to use rubberwood furniture both indoors and outdoors.
Protective seal coating helps rubberwood to separate from the outside world to get protected from moisture, insect attacks, UV light, and other elements.
Make sure to apply a wood sealer or stain regularly to keep the wood protected.
Because once the seal or stain faded away, the wood will quickly interact with the outside world and absorb moisture which causes wood to rot.
Once the moisture is gone inside of the wood, there is no benefit of sealing it. Because the wood will start to rot from the inside.
Therefore, regular proper sealing at least once per year is a must for better maintenance of rubberwood furniture.
By staining and painting, rubberwood not only gets protected but also improves its appearance with beautiful shades.
Use quality sealing or staining products to make the process succeed.
Here’re the steps you need to follow when sealing rubberwood for a better finish,
- Scrap out previous coatings and clean the surface.
- Sand the rubberwood surface with 150 grit sandpaper and remove sawdust
- Apply pre-stain wood conditioner and let it dry and cure
- Apply wood stain or sealer
- Let the wood dry and cure properly
Apply 2 -3 coats of stain or sealer to get the maximum finish.
Even though rubberwood accepts stains so well, it does not dry quickly.
So, you should wait for so long before one coat of stain gets absorbed and the surface is fully dried before applying another coat of stain.
Because if you apply stain when the surface is sticky, that’ll lead to many wood stain issues like blotches and streaks.
21-1/4″ x 16″ rubberwood onlay, with a walnut stain and a clear coat finish. It’ll be at #IWF16 for viewing! pic.twitter.com/vL0GB1VgDM
— Timber Wolf Forest Products (@WeLeadThePack) August 23, 2016
2. Clean the Wood Regularly
Clean the rubberwood surface regularly to remove dust and debris and improves its lifetime.
Clean the rubberwood surface only with soapy water once a year and wipe down the whole surface with a clean dry cloth.
Never use any other chemical cleaners to clean rubberwood furniture because rubberwood is extremely sensitive to chemicals and the wood will get damaged quickly.
Therefore I highly recommend using only soap and water when cleaning rubberwood furniture.
3. Oil The Rubberwood Furniture Periodically
Apply Danish oil or tung oil on rubberwood furniture to avoid cracks, and scratches and enhance the sheen.
Danish is a quality oil with lots of benefits. Tung oil is also the same with great qualities. They help rubberwood to get protected from moisture. They are waterproof oils.
When rubberwood furniture is placed outside after being properly treated with Danish oil, the water will get no chance to get contacted with the wood.
Because water and moisture cannot penetrate through oil coating and the wood will get protected.
Danish oil is food safe and non-toxic. Therefore, you can use Danish oil-coated rubberwood furniture for the kitchen and also as children’s toys.
Apply Danish oil periodically before the previous coat fades away once per year for better care of rubberwood furniture.
Current status: making a grown up desk, Rubberwood after 2 coats of Tung oil. pic.twitter.com/fRGTRIZiBt
— pauly d and the orionimprovementbusinesslayer (@piisalie) July 30, 2021
4. Keep Away from Extreme Cold Or Heat
Extreme cold and heat cause rubberwood to warp and twist. It is so difficult to keep rubberwood away from warping.
Therefore, during harsh weather conditions, cover up rubberwood furniture or place them in a safe place to protect the wood.
Continuous temperature fluctuations can damage the dimensional stability of rubberwood furniture and reduce its lifetime.
To prevent that, keep rubberwood furniture away from direct sunlight.
Direct sunlight not only damages the mechanical properties of the wood but also darkens the wood by killing its awesome look.
That’s it, folks! Now you have a clear idea about using rubberwood for furniture and how to protect them.
So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about using rubberwood for furniture.
Is Rubberwood Good for Dining Table?
Yes, rubberwood is excellent for the dining table. It has good scratch resistance and durability.
Rubberwood is moderately heavy and strong. Working with rubberwood is easy.
Ultimately, it’s well worth the price. It is beautiful with a light color texture. With proper staining or sealing you ‘ll be able to keep a rubberwood dining table for decades with no issues.
Is Rubberwood Waterproof?
Rubberwood is not waterproof. It absorbs moisture like a sponge which causes wood to rot. Rubberwood has no water resistance and no waterproofing ability compared to other wood types.
Because of not waterproof wood, rubberwood is not suitable for outdoor furniture. Excess moisture cause wood to warp and rot.
Therefore, proper sealing is a must before using rubberwood furniture, because once the water went inside the wood, the wood will get damaged pretty quickly.
Does Rubberwood Rot Easily?
Yes, Rubberwood rots so easily because of moisture and insect and fungi attacks.
Rubberwood decays and rots fast when it gets attacked by fungal and insect stains because wood absorbs moisture so well and makes a healthy environment for fungus to live in.
With proper sealing and staining, the wood will get protected from moisture, insects, and fungi and prevent wood from rotting.
Therefore, sealing rubberwood furniture before the application is a must.
Is Rubberwood Furniture Affordable?
Yes, rubberwood furniture is affordable. Rubberwood is considered one of the cheapest hardwoods you can get with lots of interesting features like scratch resistance, high durability, high workability and so much more.
Because of being cost-efficient, rubberwood is a commercial wood for cabinetry, flooring, carvings, and much more.
Is Rubberwood a Hardwood?
Rubberwood is a hardwood with a Janka hardness rating of 995 lbf (4,426 N) which is significantly harder than most woods.
It is considered moderately hardwood which is really useful in the furniture manufacturing industry.
It comes from a hardwood family as maple and ash.
Presentation to client before delivery. Solid 32mm Rubberwood hardwood top with a white nu-glo painted frame and push-action drawers. pic.twitter.com/4qWQ9ya0FU
— Kubuzie Group (@KubuzieDesigns) December 30, 2017
Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Is Rubberwood Good for Furniture?
In this article, we have deeply explored whether is rubberwood good for furniture and how to use rubberwood for indoor and outdoor woodworking projects with pros and cons.
Plus, we have discussed how to maintain rubberwood furniture with proper care to increase their life as well.
Rubberwood is a great wood for furniture. It is affordable, durable, scratch resistant, easy to work with, and easy to stain and finish. But it’s not a good wood for outdoor furniture due to its high moisture absorbance. It is prone to warp and twist easily. With proper sealing rubberwood, furniture can be used for so long.
Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions about using rubberwood for furniture as well.
Hope you have gained a good knowledge on your hot topic, Is rubberwood good for furniture with lots of facts and tips.
Let’s begin your next woodworking project with rubberwood and see how it goes. Keep practicing!
