Q.
Kindly enlighten me how to prevent discoloration of rubber wood after sawing and before drying. Any suggestions for retaining the natural color would be appreciated.
A.
There are two types of discoloration in rubberwood -- that caused by fungal activity and that caused by oxidation of chemicals within the wood.
Usually fungal stain is eliminated by using either very fast drying or fungicides.
Oxidation is eliminated by using fresh logs that are processed immediately and lumber that is stacked immediately and then dried correctly. Slow drying is a major contributor to chemical oxidation stains; hence the reason for urgency.
Gene Wengert, forum moderator
