Robinia

Names and distribution:

Robinia, also known as false acacia(Robinia pseudoacacia, a papilionaceous plant), is hardly used in its native USA. A few decades ago, it was reintroduced to Europe (where it was also native before the Ice Age). Today, there are large-scale plantations, especially in south-eastern Europe. The demand for high-quality robinia cannot be met from local stocks; accordingly, imports are made from Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Wooden picture:

The heartwood is sharply set off towards the sapwood, greenish yellow when fresh, darkening to golden brown. The yellow base tone can be changed to a teak color through hot steam treatment. Pores in early wood coarse, arranged in a ring and appearing almost white due to strong hyllization. Latewood pores fine, marked by light-colored storage cells. The sharply contrasting growth rings result in clear streaks on the longitudinal surfaces. Decorative.

Properties:

The specific weight is given as 0.73 (0.62…0.90) ^t/m3 at a wood moisture content of 12%. Robinia wood is highly shrinking, roughly comparable to beech. The differential shrinkage and swelling is specified as 0.%/% moisture change in the radial direction and 0.39% in the tangential direction. Drying must take place slowly in the air, later in the chamber if necessary. Robinia tends to twist, especially during drying. End cracks are common and can hardly be avoided. Robinia is easy to work with all tools and produces smooth surfaces. Robinia is remarkably hard and bendable. The Brinell hardness is given as 48, the modulus of elasticity as 13,600 ^N/mm2, but is likely to be higher. The weather resistance is high (durability class 1).

Note: Robinia tends to twist even when installed, appropriate construction measures must be taken. Dark discoloration may occur in combination with iron and water.

Use:

In good quality as parquet & flooring, otherwise general construction wood in exterior construction, longbow / sports bow, very good qualities also as turner’s wood and as sound wood or resonance wood.

Replaces: europ. Oak, overseas woods

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