Timber

Rubberwood sheets

Rubberwood is classified as a medium density hardwood used for making

furniture, cabinets, household, kitchen wear etc.
Its one of the most popular wood used for making furniture.

Brief Manufacturing Process

1. Sawing
1.1 Rubber plantation trees are generally harvested for wood after they
complete the latex producing cycle, when they are 25 to 30 years old.
Preservation: Bark is peeled off from logs with evenness.
1.2 Then the logs are cut into lumber of different small sizes. As soon as it Fig. 186 Rubberwood finger joint
sheets
convert into lumber it goes for preservation, as it is a natural product it has
the maximum chance of getting attacked by fungus.

2. Preservation: Pressurized immersion in boron preservatives.This pres-

ervation is done to protect the wood from the fungal attack.

4. Kyln drying: It’s a process done to remove the moisture content fully
from the lumber and immerse chemicals into it, to make it suitable for further
use.

5.Finger joint board: After drying different sizes of lumber, it is joined

using adhesive like glue. To make 8feet by 4feet board used further to make
specific product.

Fig. 187 Cutting of old Rubber-
wood trees by using Chainsaw.
Fig.188 Sawmilling of Rubber-
wood (cutting of logs into lumber)
Fig. 189 Non pressure method of
wood preservation i.e. spraying,
diping or soaking lumber into
chemical solution( boric acid,
borax and sodium pentachloro-
phenol (BBP)) as it is susceptible
to fungi.

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 Fig. 190 Kyln drying of lumber by using furnace
type lumber dryer(FTLD so that the moisture
content reaches a low level to destroy the live
conditions of fungus.

Fig. 191 Finger joint machine Fig. 192 Applying adhesive in Fig. 193 Joining different parts
making grooves in the board grooves to join different parts to- together by applying force with
came after drying gether to make finger joint board the help of machine.

Fig.194 Cutting of boards for Fig. 195 Adhesive used for join- Fig. 196 Screwing can be also be
further use. ing different parts. done to join different part.

Samiksha J. (18bar009), Neha A. (18bar022), Anushka G. (18bar043), Radhika A. (19bar207) 41

 Fig. 197 Nailing and Hammering Fig. 198 Sanding (used to Fig. 199Final Product
smooth surfaces by abrasion

Properties
Eco-friendly to the max.
Low natural luster.
It is strong, flexible, beautiful grain, light color,
Rubberwood is perishable, and has very little natural resistance to decay.
Color of rubberwood is initially creamy when sawn, but after kiln drying and
exposure to light, the wood turns darker with brownish and pinkish tints.
Dries rapidly with a medium to high risk of warp development. Good stacking
with stickers only 12 inches apart, plus weights on the tops of the piles will
help control warp.

Available Sizes Fig. 200 Toys

Size: 8ft x 4ft sheets thickness: 12, 18 mm

Applications

Furniture, cabinetry, interior millwork, kitchen woodenware (cutting boards,

knife blocks, etc.)
Packing, Plywood, Block board.
toys

Used majorly in interior, exterior use is avoided as it is prone to fungus and

insect.Rain can also leach the protective chemicals form the wood.
Fig. 201 Kitchen wear
Rates
12mm: 120-140/- per sq. ft.
18mm: 140-160/- per sq. ft.

Advantages/ Disadvantages of using the finish

1. Advantages:
1.1 Rubberwood is a sustainable product when used correctly.
1.2 The strength of the lumber is good, it is easy to process, such as sawmill-
ing, peeling, drilling.
1.3 Aesthetically appealing. Fig. 202 Furniture

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2. Disadvantages:
2.1 Dents occur on rubberwood furniture frequently.
2.2 Rubberwood does become slippery when wet.
2.3 Finger joints breaks due to high temperature, it breaks from the smaller
side where there is no joints just the gluing .So the furniture gets damage so
easily.
2.4 As the material dries, it tends to twist and warp because of the high
moisture content it contains.

Governing factors behind the selection of a particular finish

Asthetics Fig. 203 Dinning table
Failed in india due to high tempertaure.It is preferred either in the cold re-
gions or where there is AC for 24 hours.

Maintenance Aspects
In case of any crack happens in the furniture due to high temperature, putty
is used to fill the gaps.

Details/Junctions/joineries
Small rubberwood residues parts are glue together which ends up in longer
pieces and better strength of the joint that is called fingerjoint.
Different timber joineries , Adhesive , nailing and hammering , screwing all Fig. 204 Rubberwood sheets
these are used to make products out of rubberwood sheets.

Other specifications or details if any

It does not require any laminate and veneer
It can be polished directly for safety.
It is aesthetically good as compared to others.
It is more used in colder areas.

Usage of the material from past till date

Rubberwood has traditionally been used as a cheap source of fuelwood in Fig. 205 Rubberwood sheet
most of the countries where rubber plantations are abundant.
Although it had been used on a small scale before, its use for furniture mak-
ing has become much more common in the late 20th and early 21st century
with the development of chemical treatments to protect the wood against
fungal and insect attacks.
In the, 1980s, the development of chemical treatment processes allowed the
wood to be more widely used for furniture making and frames.

Recognition of the material after application

Brownish or creamish colour.
Visibility of finger joint.( Major factor from which one can identify that it is
a rubberwood furniture.)
Fig. 206 Table

Samiksha J. (18bar009), Neha A. (18bar022), Anushka G. (18bar043), Radhika A. (19bar207) 43

Case study (Ahemdabad , Gujarat)

Fig. 207 Dining table Fig. 208 Dining table Fig. 209 Dining table

Joineries used in making products from Rubberwood Finger joint sheets

Fig. 210 Butt joint Fig. 211 Biscuit joint Fig. 212 Tongue and groove joint

Fig. 213 Dowel joint Fig. 214 Mortise and tenon joint Fig. 215 Lap joint

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