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Working and Finishing Properties of Rubber (hevea Brasiliensis) Wood

M. O. Hannan
Junior Research Officer
Wood Working and Timber Engineering Division,Bangladesh Forest Research Institute,Chittagong.

M. A. Khaleque
Divisional Officer incharge
Wood Working and Timber Engineering Division,Bangladesh Forest Research Institute,Chittagong.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Rubber is an important manufacturing raw material. Apart from the latex production, rubber wood is now being used for sawnwood and furniture production.As the demand for construction, furniture, cabinet, door and window material continues to increase and the supply from the natural forest continues to diminish, substitute species from plantation sources can be utilized to meet this demand. The constraint in using unknown species for construction, furniture, door window and similar purposes in the lack or inadequacy of information on wood properties. However, as more information on basic and technological properties is generated, more and more unknown species or lesser known species will find their way into proper use. In Bangladesh rubber wood is a new and unknown to users. Knowledge of processing properties such as sawing, drying, treatability, machinability and finishing together with mechanical properties are essential. The present study reports on sawing, machining, hand tools and finishing tests of rubber wood to evaluate its working qualities and finishing adaptability.

Keywords: Rubber, Machining, Handtools, Working qualities, Finishing adaptability.

Location: Wood Working and Timber Engineering Division

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Rubber wood

Objectives:

To assess the suitability of rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) wood for furniture and construction purposes.

Methodology:

Rubber log was procured from the Datmara Rubber Estate, Hyanko, Chittagong. The logs were converted to 25 mm planks by plane sawing in a 122 cm manually feed band saw. Sawing performance was recorded during sawing the logs into planks.The planks were dried to 12% moisture content and further dressed to 19 mm thickness. Twenty test samples of 19 mm × 125 mm × 1220 mm were prepared. All the test samples were sound and free from all defects including knots, incipient decay, surface checks and splits. Prior to conduct the test, these samples were again converted to smaller pieces suitable for different machining operations.The working properties of wood were carried out in two different methods, viz., machines and hand tools. Ten samples were tested with machines and ten samples with hand tools. After completion of each test, the samples were examined visually to sort out the defect free samples. In each test, the samples were examined for torn grain, fuzzy grain, raised grain, chipped grain, chip mark, tear out, broken corner and roughness. The percentage of defect free samples was considered to be the measure of the machining and working qualities. The tests were carried out in accordance with ASTM standards: D-1666-64; 1971 with certain deviations because of limitations of available equipment. Similar tests were carried out using carpenters hand tools.In finishing test two types of polish viz., shellac and carpa were applied and data recorded on the basis of the surface finish.

Source of Information: Bulletin 7,3pp, Wood working series, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong, 1992

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Rubber wood is easy to work in sawing and machining. It is also suitable in narrow gauge band saw blade which is widely used in sawmilling sector of Bangladesh. Rubber wood has acceptable working properties in the use of planing, shaping, boring, mortising and turning. Other tests of planing, shaping, boring, mortising by carpenters hand tools show excellent working qualities. There show a little change between treated and air dry samples. The results indicate that rubber wood can be used for manufacture of furniture.Application of chalk powder and spirit as the surface preparation and final coats of shellac and carpa were reported to be quite promising in gloss attainment. Finishing of treated rubber wood shows darker in colour with a little change check in gloss attainment.The present study gives some information on the suitability of various use of this valuable timber. The commercial use of this timber is going to reduce the pressure on the natural forest.

Knowledge Management: Booklet/Leaflet