The disadvantages of pine wood

• Products made from pine wood lose important properties when painted
• Toxic substances are created when the products are cared for
• Pine wood products are difficult to maintain
• Products are not dishwasher safe
• Pine wood is relatively soft and therefore tends to form dents

What exactly are the pine wood disadvantages listed above?

Pine wood loses some of its positive properties when it is painted

Lacquered surfaces - including those made of pine wood - close the pores and have the purpose of protecting the surface from external influences. In principle, this also applies to pine wood products. However, an important property of pine wood is its open pores, through which essential oils such as pinosylvin are released to the outside. The pinosylvin in pine wood gives it its typical scent and its bactericidal and fungicidal effects, provided the pores of the wood are not closed with a varnish or other surface sealant.

By sealing the surface of products made from pine wood, the wood loses another important property. It normally balances the air humidity; it absorbs excess air moisture and releases it back into the drier surrounding air. With bread pots made of pine wood, balancing the air humidity is very important for the shelf life of the bread products.
The problem of the sealed surface can be easily solved by simply leaving the surface of the pine wood in its natural state. A treatment with fine sandpaper with a grit of approximately 250 creates an attractive, smooth surface without sealing the pores. This does not affect the positive properties of pine wood.

Is pine wood toxic if cared for?

The pinosylvin contained in pine wood, which has essential properties, has a bactericidal and fungicidal effect and is not suitable for internal use, so it must not be drunk. The typical smell and scent that pinosylvin exudes even has positive properties for us humans. The question of whether pine wood is poisonous can be answered with a clear no, as long as the pine wood remains natural.

The use of common household cleaning agents when caring for pine wood can lead to reactions between the cleaning agent and the essential oils in the wood. Toxic substances can temporarily be produced. The same applies when waxing the pine wood with beeswax. Treating surfaces with beeswax can even lead to a temporary, unpleasant odor.

So what to do? Avoiding the above problems is very easy. Stone pine wood should only be cared for with a duster and, if heavily soiled, with clear water. You just have to make sure that the pine wood that has become wet dries slowly again, i.e. not on the heater or with a hairdryer, because the wood could then warp or crack. A light sanding after drying makes the surfaces pleasant to the touch and fresh again.

Caring for the pine wood bread pot is easy

Bread pots made of pine wood are very popular because the pinosylvin they contain prevents mold from forming in the bread pot and ensures a certain level of moisture regulation. The principle of only using clear water for cleaning also applies to the bread pot pine wood care so as not to deprive the wood of its antibacterial, fungicidal and moisture-regulating properties. It is important not to impede the breathability of the surface of the pine wood.

Pine wood products are not dishwasher safe

For the reasons explained above, pine wood surfaces should only be cleaned with a dry duster, a damp cloth or, if very dirty, with clear water without any detergent added. This means that pine wood parts are not suitable for the dishwasher. We therefore recommend that if the parts are heavily soiled, simply rinse them with clear tap water and then let them dry slowly at room temperature.

The relatively soft pine wood tends to form dents

Compared to other softwoods, stone pine is relatively hard, but compared to hardwoods such as oak or beech, it is relatively soft. This means that rough handling of products made from pine wood can leave small dents on the surface. What you as the user may find disadvantageous is an advantage for the carpenter or sculptor because the wood is relatively easy to work with.

All of our veneered products are not prone to dent formation. The wood, hay or stone veneers are laminated on the back and coated or oiled on the front. They are therefore absolutely unbreakable, durable and stable. The products require virtually no care other than the occasional duster or damp wipe.