Wood Species Guide
Rubberwood
Hevea brasiliensis
Also called: Parawood, Para Rubber Tree, Hevea, Plantation Hardwood, Malaysian Oak (marketing name)
About the name “Rubberwood”
Rubberwood is the timber of the latex rubber tree, cut when plantation trees stop producing latex. Furniture stores sometimes call it Malaysian oak or plantation hardwood, but it is not an oak.
What Rubberwood looks like
Pale cream to light tan, sometimes with a faint pinkish tone, and it darkens slightly to a honey color with age. Heartwood and sapwood look alike.
Grain and texture
Straight to slightly interlocked grain with a medium, even texture. It looks a bit like plain maple or birch.
Working Rubberwood: planing, cutting and gluing
Easy to machine, sand and glue, which is why it is so common in factory furniture and butcher block. Interlocked spots can tear out, and fresh lumber may carry stain if it was not treated quickly. Expect some glue-up of narrow strips, since boards are small.
Finishing Rubberwood: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes stain, paint and clear finishes evenly. For butcher block, food-safe mineral oil or a hardwax oil works well. It is easy to seal under epoxy.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not rot resistant and prone to insects and fungal stain, so commercial stock is treated and kiln dried. It is reasonably stable once dry. In Florida it is an indoor wood; keep it sealed and away from standing water.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Rubberwood is the budget hardwood behind a lot of finger-jointed butcher block counters, kids' furniture and kitchen tools. It is a fair stand-in for maple on a tight budget, though softer. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Rubberwood
Furniture, butcher block countertops, cabinetry, kitchen tools, cutting boards, toys and interior millwork.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List. Lumber comes from plantation trees at the end of their latex-producing life, about 25 to 30 years, so it is a good use of a by-product.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
Few reports. Dust is an ordinary irritant; people with a strong latex allergy should use gloves and a mask as a precaution.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding; gloves if you have a latex allergy
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
No reactions beyond ordinary wood dust irritation are commonly reported. People with a latex allergy sometimes ask about it; dried, processed rubberwood carries little latex, but if you have a strong latex allergy, wear gloves and a mask and stop if you react.
Rubberwood in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Rubberwood listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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