There are many several types of wooden which can be utilized in carpentry and furnishings making they usually all have their professionals and cons. Acacia is a well-liked selection and whereas there are many nice issues about it, I’ve to level out that there are some issues it’s best to make earlier than selecting this as your wooden of selection.
I’m not essentially saying that you just shouldn’t use acacia however the disadvantages may be sufficient to place you off for any specific mission.
Include me as we discover the disadvantages of acacia wooden with a purpose to assist you to make the precise determination relating to selecting timber.
What Is Acacia?
Acacia is a sort of hardwood and it’s one of the crucial widespread in furnishings making as a result of it’s really the toughest sort of hardwood there may be. It’s extremely dense and pliable and the color is really one thing to behold.
Lots of people are realising the significance of selecting sustainable woods and this implies chopping out using unique woods like mahogany and rosewood. However should you nonetheless need the identical properties whereas being eco-friendly then acacia is an excellent different.
There are additionally many alternative species of acacia tree; greater than 1350 to be exact. Whereas the wooden from all of those species is simply as sturdy and enticing as the following, there are slight variations which makes it simpler to search out the proper sort of acacia on your mission.
The Disadvantages Of Acacia Wooden
Whereas acacia is a particularly widespread selection for woodworkers, there are some issues that you just’ll want to think about. I wouldn’t say that these ought to be thought-about a deal breaker however the disadvantages of this kind of wooden might make it unsuitable for some tasks. So, earlier than making a decision, I’d urge you to consider the next.
It’s Comparatively Excessive Upkeep
All varieties of wooden require some type of upkeep purely as a result of it’s a pure materials that can shortly degrade if it isn’t taken care of. Whereas acacia is definitely not the most demanding, there are points with the wooden’s means to retain its unique color. After a while, the wooden can begin trying gray and this isn’t one thing that everybody likes.
Some folks don’t thoughts this aged impact and if that’s you then there’s no cause you can’t proceed permitting your wooden to vary color.
Nevertheless, if you wish to fight this downside you then’ll must put in a bit of additional work. That includes sustaining the unique end of the wooden. In the event you’ve made the furnishings your self then follow no matter end you initially used. In the event you’ve bought the furnishings, you’ll want to discover out the unique end so that you could be constant when caring for the wooden. Linseed oil is a standard selection.
It’s Temperature Delicate
In the event you’re fascinated by shopping for acacia wooden then you might want to take into account the place you’re going to position the piece of furnishings. Placing it subsequent to a warmth supply equivalent to a patio heater, wooden burning range, fire and even in direct daylight can actually upset the wooden and it’ll start to crack.
Whereas it is a very sturdy sort of wooden, acacia has fibres that face each other and this tends to make it fairly brittle.
That mentioned, should you rotate your furnishings frequently to guarantee that no single half is being over uncovered to the warmth then it shouldn’t be an issue.
It Has Irregular Grain Construction
It is a drawback that can divide folks. As with the greying of acacia wooden, some folks just like the irregular grain whereas others discover it to be a novel and spectacular attribute. It’s all down to private opinion.
One of many predominant cons about it’s that the design of the wooden could be unpredictable and inconsistent. In the event you’re making a chunk of furnishings the place you need uniformity, you in all probability gained’t be capable of obtain that with this kind of wooden.
It’s Heavy
You may be asking why I’m saying that being heavy is a drawback for acacia. Properly, in some methods, it’s an extremely optimistic trait however additionally it is one thing to think about. For instance, should you’re in search of a chunk of furnishings you could simply transfer round your own home or backyard then one thing with quite a lot of weight isn’t going to be simple to shift.
Lots of people like picket outside furnishings however in addition they like to decide on a light-weight wooden in order that they’ll deliver it indoors shortly ought to the climate take a flip for the worst. That mentioned, should you reside in a windy space, you’re going to need one thing heavier so it doesn’t blow across the backyard.
In addition to being heavy, acacia is extraordinarily dense and laborious. Once more, that may very well be an excellent factor and it makes it much more sturdy that different varieties of hardwood like maple or oak. Nevertheless, which means the wooden is much more tough and time consuming to repair if it ever will get scratched. The chances are low due to the sturdiness however it’s price contemplating.
It Doesn’t Come Low cost
With all the good factors of acacia, it gained’t come as a lot of a shock that it isn’t probably the most reasonably priced wooden on the planet. I imply, in comparison with some varieties of unique wooden like rosewood, it’s quite a bit cheaper and that’s due to how sustainable it’s. However once you evaluate the worth to native hardwoods, it would make your eyes water. Nevertheless it’s all about price range and the way a lot you’re pleased to spend.
It’s, in fact, doable to get a greater deal on acacia wooden and acacia furnishings. Issues like your location, the lower of the wooden and different issues will have an effect on the worth so it’s price purchasing round to see what yow will discover.
So, Ought to I Trouble With Acacia Or Select One thing Else?
Having appeared on the disadvantages of acacia wooden, you could possibly be forgiven for considering that it’s not price it. However I wouldn’t poo-poo the thought simply but. There are a ton of causes that acacia is good as a furnishings wooden and it actually relies on what you’re in search of.
For instance, if you would like a light-weight wooden that’s tremendous simple to look after then acacia in all probability isn’t for you. However these cons may be thought-about benefits by somebody who enjoys sustaining wooden and desires one thing heavy and strong. It’s all relative, as they are saying.
However should you’re sitting on the fence, let me level out just a few causes that acacia may work properly for you. For starters, that is an extremely resistant sort of wooden that’s ideally suited for outside use because it gained’t be simply broken by water.
I’ve examine research which have proven acacia might final so long as 4 a long time with out ever needing to be handled. However in fact, the circumstances must be spot on and generally, you will want to deal with it way more ceaselessly than this.
As I discussed earlier, acacia may be very sturdy. Whereas it may be powerful to repair within the occasion that it will get scratched or broken, it’s extremely unlikely that it’ll ever maintain harm within the first place.
One thing else that I believe makes acacia a very good selection for furnishings is that it is a naturally antibacterial sort of wooden. In the event you’re making a eating desk or maybe even one thing like a chopping board, it’s good for meals prep and consuming.
For these of you that need to begin a woodworking mission and are contemplating acacia, let me let you know that it is a good selection for inexperienced persons. Whereas it’s an extremely laborious and resistant wooden, it’s additionally very pliable, particularly when it’s contemporary. So should you’re in search of one thing that’s going to be simple to work, it’s positively price contemplating.
I discussed earlier that acacia is extraordinarily sustainable and that’s largely due to what number of species there are. It is a very simply accessible wooden and even the place giant quantities are harvested, there are nonetheless hundreds of thousands of timber left over so there’s no considerations over extinction.
Ultimate Ideas
With regards to choosing the proper sort of wooden on your subsequent furnishings mission or when shopping for prepared made furnishings, acacia could also be one thing you’ve thought-about. You might have additionally heard about how sturdy and resistant this wooden is which is one thing that may push folks to decide.
Nevertheless, whereas there are quite a lot of good factors about acacia, as with something, there are just a few downsides that it’s best to take into account earlier than deciding on a call.
In the event you don’t need a heavy wooden that requires quite a lot of upkeep, then acacia is probably not the precise selection for you. Moreover, acacia can get fairly costly so should you’re engaged on a strict price range, it could be higher to decide on one thing like oak or walnut.