Originally found in Brazil by early explorers in the early 17th century. Indigenous tribes used the sap from these trees to make sports balls. Intrigued by its properties, explorers brought the seeds to Europe. Eventually, rubber trees were found to grow well in European colonies in Asia. French Indochina, (Vietnam), Thailand and Hynan Island off the coast of China.
Like many maples, rubberwood is also a sap-producing species, specifically producing rubber. After the useful economic life of rubber tapping, the oldest practice was to burn the “useless” tree. As a cultivated wood, its “sustainability” characteristic is paramount. Rubberwood is the most environmentally “friendly” wood used in today’s furniture industry. Unlike other woods that are cut for the sole purpose of producing furniture, rubberwood is used only after it completes (18-25 years) its latex production cycle and dies. Therefore, this wood is eco-friendly in almost every way. No part of this cultivated tree is wasted during its entire life cycle.
Rubberwood is the wood of the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), often called the rubber tree. Rubberwood, also called parawood in Thailand, is used in high-end furniture as it is valued for its dense grain, attractive color, minimal shrinkage, and acceptance of different finishes. It is also appreciated as an “environmentally friendly” wood, since it uses trees that have been cut at the end of their latex production cycle.
Rubberwood is often misunderstood as a species of wood used in the furniture industry.
The name rubberwood itself invokes a variety of misconceptions regarding its characteristics and durability. It is one of the most durable hardwoods used in the manufacture of home furnishings this decade. A member of the Euphorbiaceae family, rubberwood has a dense grain character that is easily controlled in the kiln-drying process. Rubberwood has very little shrinkage, making it one of the most stable building materials available for furniture manufacturing. Rubberwood readily takes on many different types and colors of wood finishes, so rubberwood as used in furniture can mimic rosewood, oak, or other more expensive woods, creating confusion in identifying the type of wood used in furniture.
Once Vulcanization was perfected, which prevented the rubber from rotting, production was increased for the production of Bicycle Tires. Later because production required massive increases again in production. World War II required so many tires that the United States needed to replace rubber with tires with synthetic materials. Production continued to decline until around 1960, when the hidden resource of rubberwood was discovered. As a furniture wood, it is almost as hard as oak. Very nice grain patterns abound. Rubber from rubber trees is now used primarily for erasers, condoms, and rubber gloves.
Rubberwood’s finish is no different than any other fine hardwood. The secret to a uniform finish is in the uniform sanding of the surface. The smoother the sanded finish, the lighter the finish tends to be. Instead of using your eyes to determine the surface, use your hands. Feel the entire surface feeling for rough spots. These rough spots will be tinted darker than the smooth areas around the rough spots.