Pros and Cons of Using Acacia Wood for Outdoor Furniture

 Pros and Cons of Using Acacia Wood for Outdoor Furniture

Acacia wood is a group of wood consisting of several types of species, one of which is popularly used to make furniture is the Acacia Mangium and Acacia Auriculiformis species which grow widely in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

There is also another type known as Acacia Hybrid, which is a new variety resulting from a cross between the species Acacia Mangium and Acacia Auriculiformis. The characteristics are no different from the parent variety, but Hybrid Acacia wood can grow faster.

Acacia wood has strong fibers and is resistant to wood pest attacks, and has good durability for outdoor furniture construction. So if you want to use Acacia wood for outdoor furniture, know the following pros and cons.

PROs

1. The price of Acacia wood is more affordable

Acacia wood is an alternative wood to other more expensive types of hardwood, for example Eucalyptus wood, Teak wood, or Merbau wood. Apart from that, the growth of Acacia trees is faster, because they grow in forest areas that have lots of sunlight and water sources.

2. Wood is more durable

Compared to Mahogany wood, wood or Pine wood for example, Acacia is more durable and resistant to outdoor weather conditions including sunlight, rain, wind and even snow. As long as it is cared for properly, Acacia wood furniture can last for years outdoors.

3. Scratch resistant and strong

The density of Acacia wood ranges from 400 - 650 kg/m3, a density that is more than enough to support furniture structures with medium loads (for chairs, folding tables or dining tables).

Apart from that, Acacia wood is more stable and does not change shape easily even when exposed to extreme weather conditions, as long as the wood has been dried previously with an MC of 8 - 10%.

4. Sustainable or sustainable

To reach a tree diameter sufficient to be cut into wood (30 - 40cm diameter), Acacia trees only need around 8-10 years, and can reach a height of more than 50 meters. In this way, management of Acacia tree planting can be faster and more efficient.

5. Variations in wood grain

Acacia wood grain is relatively fine and has very varied patterns, depending on the direction of cutting or position of the log, unlike other types of wood which are only straight or thinly striped. This advantage makes furniture that uses Acacia wood more attractive and unique.

6. Easy to finish

The color of Acacia wood is from light brown to dark brown, slightly greenish, making it easy to color quite light, and can even resemble the color of teak wood. Finishing materials can also easily absorb into the pores, and can remain for a long time.

CONs

1. Drying wood takes longer & is more complicated

Compared to other types of wood, Acacia wood requires a longer drying time. It takes between 20 - 30 days for thick boards up to 3 cm, and can take up to 40 days for thicker boards. Handling is more complicated, because the reactions of sapwood and heartwood are quite different.

2. Care must be more careful

Outdoor furniture made from Akasi wood requires better maintenance than furniture made from other types of hardwood. Clean more often after dusty use or after rain, it also needs to be sanded a little with a thin layer of finishing material periodically and more often.

Teak wood furniture, for example, is simpler and does not require frequent re-coating with finishing materials.

3. The color of the wood is quite contrasting

The sapwood part is quite weak and very light in color compared to the heartwood part, so it is best not to use Acacia sapwood if you want a uniform color in the resulting outdoor furniture. Apart from that, the sapwood is softer and more easily attacked by fungi, and is not suitable for load-bearing furniture parts (chair legs or table legs).

4. Wood knot

Acacia wood has quite a lot of knots, because the tree has many branches. This part should be avoided because it weakens the structure of the furniture, and aesthetically it looks less attractive.

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