There are many misconceptions about wood and wood product manufacturing, and you may be surprised to learn that some of what you think you know is wrong.
In the following article, we’ll consider some common notions about wood and see how they compare with the hard facts.
Keep on reading to discover more!
The 7 most common false myths about wood product manufacturing
Let’s discuss them.
Wood is easy to manage
Wood is a complicated material to treat without deep competency, proper software and technology, tools, and expertise.
One of the most challenging characteristics of wood is that it moves as its moisture content changes. When humidity is high, wood absorbs moisture and swells. When humidity drops, wood shrinks.
These imperceptible movements can cause significant problems for the final product.
In wood manufacturing, considering tolerances is therefore crucial. A competent wood maker must understand how wide the tolerances may be without negatively affecting the final product.
The problem is that most companies are not specialized in wood manufacturing, and they also manage other materials, such as plastics or metals. If they adopt the same tolerances for all the raw materials, product fitting will be inaccurate.
That is one of the reasons why choosing a manufacturing company that operates exclusively in the timber sector and has deep experience in wood product manufacturing is important.
Logging always destroys forests and soil
Most people believe that logging is always bad and that cutting trees and sustainability are the opposite, but this depends on many factors.
In a responsibly managed forest, for every tree cut, another one is planted to preserve the natural eco-system.
This has many benefits for both humans and the environment in terms of biodiversity, regeneration, and forest health. If you are interested in this topic, in this article we discussed why sustainable logging is beneficial for our ecosystem.
Sustainable logging has nothing to do with deforestation, which is motivated by economic interests without considering the consequences for our planet (as it occurs in Rondônia and Mato Grosso in Brazil).
Wood is undoubtedly sustainable
As logging is not always destructive, wood is not always sustainable.
It is true that wood is present in nature, so it doesn’t pollute the environment once thrown away. But what about wood product manufacturing?
If wood is not collected and treated responsibly, it can’t be considered sustainable.
It means that:
- wood must be FSC or PEFC certified to ensure that logging doesn’t damage the environment as discussed above
- the wood manufacturing company must incorporate eco-friendly policies in all aspects of its business, paying attention to the waste of resources, energy consumption, and the carbon footprint
Have a look at the video below:
If you want to learn more about this topic, read our article about the characteristics of a sustainable wood manufacturing company.
Wood is more expensive than plastic
The fact that a material is more expensive than another one doesn’t only depend on price. In fact, even if wood costs more than plastic, it is especially cost-effective.
Wooden objects, in fact, don’t need moulds, which are very expensive. Whenever the mould you’ve created has to be modified, it requires additional investment in time and money, and you won’t always be able to give it the desired shape.
The initial investment for wooden items is therefore lower compared with plastic, and possible modifications during production are easier, quicker, and less expensive.
If you find the right supplier, you can also produce small lots based on market demand and get them delivered just in time. It means a reduction of the holding cost and any other costs associated with it.
Wood is more likely to develop mold
Many people are wary of using wooden toothbrushes, wooden cutting boards, or wooden dish brushes because they believe these products are more likely to develop mold when used in a humid environment.
These objects, in fact, can easily get wet and remain damp for a long time, but if you choose a specialized manufacturer, it must be able to treat wood with special finishes that make it water repellent. This process will prevent the growth of microorganisms even if you leave your toothbrush in a steamy bathroom.
Moreover, close-grained woods especially are less likely to absorb dust and bacteria and develop mold, and even when germs contaminate the wooden surface, they cannot multiply and eventually die. It means that wooden products are safer for people’s health.
Hardwoods are hard, and softwoods are soft
The terms hardwood and softwood are misleading. Softwood doesn’t mean that these woods are softer than the others. Many hardwoods, in fact, are softer than softwoods and vice versa.
For example, balsa wood is a hardwood that is relatively soft; on the contrary, redwood is considered a softwood even if it is one of the hardest woods worldwide.
The definition and classification of whether a tree is considered a hardwood or a softwood comes down to the seed it produces and not the strength or density of the timber.
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees or angiosperms, while softwoods come from conifers or gymnosperms.
Wooden objects have splinters
Wood can expand and shrink depending on the level of humidity in the air. This repeated expansion and shrinkage can cause splintering over time, but if the wood is prepared and processed correctly, this problem doesn’t exist.
A reliable manufacturer treats wood with advanced machinery and tools and applies strict quality control over products—both automatic and manual—to guarantee maximum safety, precision, and a very smooth surface.
Finding an expert supplier with the right expertise as well as the machinery and tools to manage wood properly is not easy.
However, if you look at manufacturers with several decades of experience in different industries, you’re more likely to identify the right partner.
Since 1937, Minelli S.p.A. has ensured perfection in the quality and design of each product manufactured, and its experienced specialists serve customers in the best way possible, always following rigorous processes and environmental sustainability.
We always put our expertise and innovative technology at our clients’ disposal and do our best to satisfy them. If you are looking for top-quality custom wood products, please contact us right now!
