Acacia is a popular choice among the different varieties of wood available on the market. One of the most visually pleasing woods on the market, this tree species has a unique grain pattern. When it comes to the usage of acacia wood, what exactly is it? Some acacia wood properties and characteristics will help you more when considering using Acacia for your house.
What type of wood is Acacia?
Acacia is the wood from trees and shrubs native to Australia, Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and some portions of the United States. It is utilized to make furniture, homewares, floors, cookware, and other wooden items.
The various types of Acacia are:
- Babul
- Hawaiian Koa
- Acacia Mangium
- Acacia Melanoxylon, etc.
Hardwoods like Acacia are the toughest wood in the group and are known for their flexibility and density. Wood fibers face each other in their multidirectional structure. While the sapwood of this tree might be yellow or brown, the core is reddish-brown with black veins.
Acacia Tree Characteristics
The acacia tree can thrive in a wide variety of conditions. Due to this, they are best suitable for temperate or arid regions.
There are nearly 1,000 different varieties of this species, all of which grow quickly. In just five years, they may reach 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters).
They’re also absorbing greenhouse gasses like nitrogen and oxygen while doing so. The materials made from Acacia are environment friendly and suitable as they can store these gasses.
Acacia Wood Properties
Appearance
There is a wide range of shades in Acacia wood, from light brown to dark red, although the reddish-brown color is the most common. Heartwood hue varies from light brown to dark red; the yellowish-white sapwood is distinguishable from the heartwood. There is less sapwood in older trees, and the heartwood has a substantially deeper hue than the sapwood. The heartwood’s color changes from light brown to golden brown due to exposure to light. As it is, acacia wood is naturally relatively smooth, but it becomes much more so when treated.
Rough Surface
In addition to the drab, brown grains, there are also golden ones. It’s unlikely that two pieces of this wood would be precisely the same.
Hardness
If you wonder how hard acacia wood is, don’t worry. It is harder than many other kinds of wood, and it is 70% tougher than Red Oak and 23% harder than White Oak. JANKA Hardness Number of Acacia is 2200.
Strength
It is heavier than other common building woods such as oak, spruce, and pine. Acacia wood strength is very high; wood made from acacia trees is hard enough with a rating of 2,300 lbf (10,230 N):
Scratch-resistant
Acacia wood’s smooth, glossy, and slick surface makes it resistant to scuffs. Due to the scratch-resistant nature of Acacia, painting is not required more frequently.
Water resistance
Acacia wood is highly resistant to water and is relatively stable. As a result, it’s commonly seen on high-usage items frequently exposed to water. Acacia wood may endure up to 40 years without any treatment or protection.
Durability
It is 14 % denser than Red Oak and 4% denser than White Oak; it has an 800 kg/m3 density. Its hardness, weight, water resistance, and scratch resistance make it one of the most long-lasting timbers available. There is a long history of ship and boat building using this material, and it has also been frequently used to make cutting boards, bowls, floors, and furniture.
AntiBacterial
This is one of the unique acacia wood properties that it is inherently antimicrobial, unlike other woods. This implies that it may be used to cook and serve meals without issues. When seeking the best wood for a cutting board, Acacia should be your first pick.
Long-Lasting
Wood from this kind of tree is exceptionally environmentally friendly. First and foremost, it grows more quickly, and its lifespan is between 15 and 30 years, while oak trees have an average of 80 to 200 years.
They are only eaten after their sap has been worn out, which means that they are no longer helpful to birds, animals, or insects.No two Acacia planks are the same; the grain structure of Acacia ranges from straight to uneven but is usually wavy.
Flexibility
As soon as they are cut, acacia wood is highly flexible. Your wood may be used to make various things because it is so malleable. And once they’ve been made, they’re tough and long-lasting. As a result, acacia wood is an excellent material for outdoor furniture such as benches, seats, and buffets. It may also be used as a floor covering. The elasticity of Acacia wood makes it highly resistant to cracks. Because of this, acacia wood furniture is more resistant to breaking.
Smooth Finishing
In contrast to other varieties of wood, Acacia wood has a smooth surface finish, giving your furniture and doors a distinctive appearance. This wood also doesn’t require a lot of polishing or other treatment to look great. As a result, it will be economical for you as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to recognize acacia woods?
Pore sizes range from medium to large in wood, diffusely porous (rather than ring-porous). The fluorescence of several Acacia species can help distinguish them from other closely related genera.
What are the Cons of Acacia wood?
- Has more risk of warping and cracking
- Take time to dry
- It is expensive
Where is acacia wood commonly used?
- Commonly used for furniture
- Due to strength can also be used for supportive beams of buildings
- Due to the beautiful appearance used in carving for valuable purposes