Disadvantages Of Acacia Wood [Quick Facts]

Acacia wood is one of the types of wood utilized most frequently in furniture manufacturing.

It has a stunning appearance and exceptional sturdiness and is capable of readily lasting a lifetime.

Even better, Acacia thrives when grown in outdoor environments.

It is one of the few species of wood that can effortlessly resist adverse weather conditions, including frigid winters, making it a desirable choice for outdoor structures.

As a result of this, woodworkers have a natural affinity for Acacia.

Acacia wood has a poor reputation.

Acacia has an unending variety of great traits, but it also has some things that could be improved that make it easier to like in specific contexts.

These scenarios include:

In the following, we will discuss some of the drawbacks of acacia wood and the essential information you need to know about it.

VIDEO: Things To Know About Acacia Wood

What kind of wood is Acacia?

The word “thorny Egyptian tree” is where the name “acacia” originates from. Acacia is an English word.

Acacia trees, which were initially native to Australia but may now be found across Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, and even areas of the Americas, provide the raw material for the wood.

There are several names for acacia trees, varying depending on where you are in the world.

One example is that some people refer to it as the thorn tree, while others call it the Asian walnut.

There are about 1,350 species on the globe, and each has a unique name.

The height of the trees ranges between 20 and 30 feet (six to nine meters).

Acacia solid wood slabs are most frequently used to produce hardwood lumber.

The plant is helpful for many other things as well. For instance, the cosmetics, medical, and pharmaceutical industries can all benefit from using chemicals derived from the bark and leaves.

Contradictions Regarding Acacia Wood

Let’s discuss some issues when using acacia wood for furniture instead of other exotic hardwood.

But first, why does acacia wood get overlooked sometimes by woodworkers?

Temperature fluctuations have a significant impact on acacia wood.

Even though Acacia is one of the strongest woods, it does not fare well when exposed to significant temperature shifts.

For example, Acacia is susceptible to cracking when exposed to high temperatures.

According to studies, exposure to high temperatures weakens acacia lumber fibers, making them more prone to cracking.

The problem is significantly more severe in areas with significant temperature differences throughout a single day.

For instance, acacia furniture is susceptible to deterioration in climates where the temperatures range from warm during the day to extremely cold at night.

Acacia wood also expands when exposed to high humidity or precipitation (rain or snow).

Because of this, acacia furniture is unsuitable for outdoor use.

Rotate the outdoor furniture to avoid overexposure to the elements if this is the sole material available for use in the construction of the pieces.

In addition, you should stay away from direct contact with sources of heat such as the sun and the fireplace.

Acacia wood requires extensive maintenance.

Unfortunately, pieces of furniture made from acacia wood need much upkeep to preserve their look and physical properties.

To eradicate dust and avoid the accumulation of grime, for example, acacia furniture should be wiped down regularly with a towel that has been gently dampened with water.

In that case, the surfaces risk becoming overly dry and prone to traction problems.

On the other hand, you can use liquid to saturate the wiping towel.

For example, cleaning products containing silicon or ammonia are out of the question because these substances have qualities that might cause acacia wood to become overly dry and crack.

Instead, it would help if you wiped the furniture down with a solution that consists of warm soapy water.

Lastly, your acacia wood furniture requires specific preservatives to be oiled into it, or the chance of it warping will be even higher.

Because colored finishing oils offer superior UV protection, numerous industry professionals advise choosing them over transparent finishing oils.

Regrettably, a relatively small percentage of people are ready for this degree of care.

Irregular, unexpected grain structure

Acacia wood is renowned for its unpredictable and erratic grain pattern, which appeals to several consumers.

However, many individuals need clarification and help to incorporate into their already-established decor.

Even though there is no such thing as flawless wood, many people who work with wood prefer to work with wood that has a grain pattern that is straight and consistent.

As an illustration, we discovered earlier that acacia wood is recognizable by its abundance of knots.

The three primary types of knots found in wood are sound (tight), unsound (loose), and enclosed knots. Wood knots can take on a wide variety of appearances.

Regardless of their nature, these knots disrupt the natural flow of the wood fibers and can even break them in some cases.

There are two significant effects that knots have on woodworking.

To begin, they reduce the strength of solid wood.

The region around the knot develops into a weak link.

Because of this, the use of knotted wood in applications that subject the lumber to considerable loads, such as the construction of wooden bed frames, is not recommended.

Second, the uneven grain structures of the wood make it impossible to incorporate it into any kind of existing design scheme.

Therefore, you need extreme caution not to upset the current balance.

Acacia wood is incredibly dense and incredibly tough.

On the Janka scale, the hardness of acacia wood is measured at 2,300, which places it above both hickory and white oak in terms of its level of abrasion resistance.

However, the exceptionally high hardness of the wood makes it incredibly challenging to deal with, even though it is long-lasting.

For instance, to cut certain types of hardwoods, you will require power equipment because you will not be able to cut them with hand tools.

Unfortunately, Acacia is one of the types of wood that is notoriously challenging to work with, which is a shame.

Maple, which is already one of the most challenging domestic woods at a rating of 1,450 on the Janka hardness scale, is even more challenging to cut than this material.

That should clear up any confusion you may have had regarding the acacia wood’s degree of workability.

If you’ve ever tried to chop bamboo, you’ll find that Acacia has approximately the same difficulty level.

In addition to this, Acacia is a reasonably weighty plant.

When working with heavier types of wood, one of the challenges is lifting wood pieces regularly to do tasks such as sawing, cutting, smoothing, or connecting.

If the timber is relatively heavy, this becomes a challenging task to do. Moving large suitcases is another one of life’s many complex challenges.

Remember that Acacia is not a plant that naturally occurs in North America. It’s primarily made in other countries.

The price of acacia wood is high.

Lastly, despite its many drawbacks, acacia lumber continues to command a very high price, which is one of the primary reasons that many woodworkers and their customers refrain from using it.

However, it is essential to remember that “expensive” is a relative term.

Acacia, for example, can be purchased at a lower cost than other exotic woods such as mahogany and rosewood.

If you are willing to pay for mahogany, you will be able to pay for acacia wood.

On the other hand, its price is substantially higher than that of most American hardwoods, such as maple and oak.

There is a wide range in price for 4×4 Australian Blackwood acacia, with some general rates reaching as high as $10.50 per foot.

The average price is $7.90 per foot.

The price of soft maple is approximately $5 per foot, whereas the price of hard maple is approximately $6 per foot.

Red oak costs roughly $3 per foot, even more reasonably priced than white wood.

Instead of shelling out extra money for Acacia, it can make sense to go with options that are readily available in the area, such as oak.

Is the wood of an acacia tree watertight?

Acacia wood does have some water resistance, but only a moderate amount.

Its close granules do not absorb moisture.

As a result, acacia wood has superior performance and a longer lifespan when adequately treated with a weather-proof finish.

Acacia wood also has a more attractive appearance.

Outdoor furniture made from solid Acacia can withstand the elements for many years, possibly even decades. In comparison to other types of hardwood, it requires far less upkeep.

By the way, no type of solid wood furniture is totally impervious to water.

Some types of natural wood have a solid resistance to water, allowing them to last for an extended period in environments exposed to the elements.

But this can only continue for a while because they have a cap on their resources.

Is wood made from acacia trees suitable for use outside?

Applications in the great outdoors are suitable for acacia wood.

However, before this wood type can be used, it must first be adequately dried off.

If this step is skipped, the wooden furniture will get bowed.

The dust and the sunlight’s ultraviolet rays affect the wood.

Therefore, pressure-treated wood can be a superior choice for exterior applications.

The paint and polish are also fantastic choices for protecting the wood grains and increasing the longevity of the wood.

Does Acacia Wood Break Apart Easily?

Sadly, the answer is yes.

When subjected to high temperatures, acacia wood has the propensity to break.

The primary reason for this is that heat causes the typically very robust acacia fibers to break down, which in turn causes the wood to become brittle.

The heat causes the brittle wood to shatter exceptionally easily.

However, you may lessen the likelihood that your acacia wood goods will crack if you store them in an area shielded from direct sunshine and other heat sources.

Is it simple for acacia wood to become warped?

Acacia wood, on the other hand, does not cup or cup easily. In severe conditions, however, every species of wood has the potential to twist.

On the other hand, Acacia wood is one of the few varieties of wood that is exceptionally resistant to warping.

Acacia has a high level of water resistance is the primary cause.

As a result, wood warps when there is a sudden and uneven change in the amount of moisture it contains.

On the other hand, Acacia does not readily lose its moisture, and even when it does, the process is rarely uneven.

The fact that the wood can be easily straightened out is a positive development.

How Long Does Wood from Acacia Trees Last?

Acacia wood is exceptionally long-lasting and, with proper care and upkeep, may frequently last a lifetime.

In addition, because of the wood’s high density and hardness, it is resistant to the effects of weather, scratches, and decay, which enables it to last for a very long time.

Acacia wood furniture can last up to 30 years, even if it needs to be maintained in the best possible manner.

Despite this, Acacia wood products like acacia wood outdooe furniture, acacia wood flooring or acacia floor, indoor furniture and cutting board require regular upkeep if they are to retain their stunning appearance over their long lifespan and continue to deliver dependable service.

What kind of hardwood is engineered from Acacia?

Acacia Engineered Wood is conceived of and produced to augment the natural toughness, tensile strength, and other characteristics of wood.

The structural integrity and longevity of engineered acacia hardwood are superior to that of natural acacia wood.

As a result, flooring is one of the most common applications for Acacia-engineered wood.

Acacia, The construction of engineered hardwood consists of many layers of thin wood, stacked one on the other. Each subsequent layer is positioned at an acute angle of ninety degrees.

This structure makes the engineered wood flooring even more durable than it would have been otherwise.

Compared to solid wood, engineered hardwood requires less attention and care to remain in good condition.

Is the use of acacia wood good for the environment?

Acacia wood does not negatively impact the surrounding ecosystem in any way.

It is a quick-growing tree that has been able to keep its population stable despite being harvested frequently.

Trees are growing in practically every part of Asia and Australia.

The CITES Appendices and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species do not include any acacia wood species in their respective listings.

The Cost of Acacia Wood

It is a hardwood that falls within the middle price range.

Although it is less expensive than teak, it is still more expensive than oak, maple, and other types of hardwood.

The cost of acacia wood is determined by several factors, one of which is the quality of the wood. Woods can be separated into several classes based on the quality of the wood itself.

For example, an A, a B, and a C grade.

Contrary to the wood of grade C, which may contain knots, cracks, and other imperfections, the wood of grade A does not have any flaws or knots.

The cost of wood graded as A is the most expensive, while the cost of wood graded as C is the least expensive.

FAQ on Disadvantages Of Acacia Wood