Do Coconut Trees Make Good Lumber?

Coconut timber has many applications as both a structural and interior design material. The harder, high-density timber is suitable for general structural purposes such as pillars, trusses, rafting, furniture, window and door frames, floors, decking and floor joists.

How strong is coco lumber?

The wood has a Janka ball hardness of 112.5–154.7 kgf/cm2 (1600–2200 psi), which is greater than that of oak (70.3–84.4 kgf/cm2) and Douglas-fir (35.9 kgf/cm2).

Is coconut tree a hardwood?

Appearance: Coconut is very different from our familiar soft and hardwoods. It contains tough, dark brown, vascular strands embedded in softer, lighter wood. The wood in the center is very pithy and soft but becomes harder and denser the closer it gets to the outer perimeter of the tree.

What can a coconut tree be used for?

Top 10 Ways to Use a Coconut Tree

• The Flesh: Food, Milk, and Flour.
• The Water: A Healthy, Refreshing Drink.
• The Oil: For Cooking, Skin, and Hair.
• The Shells: To Steam Food and Craft With.
• The Husks: A Natural Scrubber and Craft Material.
• The Husks: Ropes.
• Tree Leaves: Thatching.
• The Sticks: Brooms.

How do you treat coconut wood?

Coconut wood is classified as non-durable. In order to prevent any attack of fungi, mould or insects during drying, a dip treatment previous to stacking is necessary.
7.3 Preservation methods

1. 1 Charring.
2. 2 Dip treatment.
3. 3 Brushing/spraying.
4. 4 Soaking.
5. 5 Hot and cold bath.
6. 6 Diffusion processes.
7. 7 Pressure treatment.

How long can coconut wood last?

Coconut wood is considered a “poor man’s lumber”, he said, and it is still unclear how the wood can be treated to extend its life – FAO estimates that once wet, it can last at most four years before pests infest it – or how to store the timber safely.

Is coconut a softwood or hardwood?

hardwood
Coconut timber is a hardwood-substitute from coconut palm trees.

What can I do with coconut trunks?

Coconut trunk and other sawmill residues are readily usable for charcoal making and for the production of energy. Coconut wood is similar to other woods in its characteristics as fuel, although the range of densities within the stem leads to variation in the energy potential.

What is coconut trunk used for?

Coconut Tree Trunk – used as timber to make houses and boats, in bridge building, furniture, drums, and canoes.

Is a coconut tree and a palm tree the same thing?

Even though a coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a species of the palm tree family (Arecaceae), there is a great variety of palm trees not bearing coconuts. So in short: A coconut tree is a type of palm tree, but not all palm trees are coconut trees.

Is coconut wood sustainable?

These trees are able to bear for about 80 years of their life after which the tree is recycled by being carved into timber, making it a viable substitute for endangered hardwoods. Each tree that has been felled is replaced by the planting of a young one, making coconut wood a sustainable and responsible choice.

Is palm tree wood good for anything?

The palm tree may be more recognizable for the fruit it grows, like the coconut, but its woody trunk is also useful. Drying and treatment processes are making palm timber a possible structural and nonstructural construction option, and the wood can also be used for fuel and insulation.

Is Coco lumber good for furniture?

Coconut timber has many applications as both a structural and interior design material. The harder, high-density timber is suitable for general structural purposes such as pillars, trusses, rafting, furniture, window and door frames, floors, decking and floor joists.

Is coconut wood termite resistant?

As such, the less dense cocowood flooring product may be prone to termite damage, but the more dense wood may be less prone or even resistant. It has been stated that termites in field and laboratory tests can severely damage low and high density cocowood, but proof of this is lacking.

Is coconut wood good for roofing?

To him, planks from coconut trees are not only affordable and easy to get, he noted that when used for roofing works, they are rugged and long-lasting, for up to 30 years, based on his experience.

How long does it take for a coconut shell to decompose?

8 years
The coconut husk is difficult to degrade under natural conditions, taking over 8 years to decompose completely into the environment (CARRIJO et al., 2002) .

Why are there no coconuts on palm trees in Florida?

Lethal yellowing is the most important disease of coconut in Florida. Since LY was discovered in Key West more than 200 years ago, this disease has crept northward, killing hundreds of thousands of palm trees and endangering virtually all of the tall coconut palms in Florida.

How long does a coconut tree take to grow?

When grown from seed, you can expect your coconut palm to start producing fruit in 6–10 years, but it won’t reach peak production until about 15–20 years after planting.

How much does a coconut tree grow in a year?

12-36 inches each year
A coconut tree can grow anywhere from 12-36 inches each year under the best growing conditions, with an ample amount of sunlight, water, and humidity.

Can you carve coconut wood?

Keep in mind that coconut shells are really thin. You may not be able to carve it the same way you might traditionally carve a piece of wood. Think about using small holes to create different designs, like swirls, geometric patterns, or even faces or words.

Why is coconut a sustainable material?

Sustainable and environmentally friendly
The residual material of the coconut is used in its entirety. It is a good alternative to wood and helps to prevent deforestation. During production, glue and chemical agents do not need to be added. Furthermore, the production is CO2 neutral.