Great texture! Only the forces of nature can Create this.
Wood finishing, especially if it involves contact with the environment, in most cases is carried out with the use of chemicals. That in itself negates the environmental friendliness of structures and household items made of wood. Moreover, once every few years you will have to renew the coating on the surface of the wood in order to preserve the appearance and structure.
Environmentally friendly wood finish
In Japan, for centuries, the method has been used to protect wood from environmental influences Shou sugi ban, can literally be translated as "Charred cedar board." The essence of the method is to burn the wood surface. Part of the ash is removed with a stiff brush. The resulting surface is treated with tung oil. Tung oil- absolutely natural non-toxic oil without the addition of any solvents. It has a high permeability to any type of wood (without leaving a film on the surface), due to its properties, the surface treated with this oil is extremely resistant to water.
Japanese wood preservation technique
100 years is not the limit
As a result of using the Shou Sugi Ban method, you will not have to renew the protective layer of wood products for 100 years, at least that's what the masters who own the technique say. This will not only save you money, time and nerves, but also greatly facilitate the life of your descendants. Offset!
Everything new is old remembered in time
Recently in America and Europe, charcoal wood finishes are widely used in exterior and interior design.
See how the technique is applied in practice
Stunning textures
The wood firing technology is used to create a finishing material called Fired Wood. Experienced builders know that wood is an environmentally friendly and very difficult material that always needs to be treated with special impregnations before it can be used in construction and renovation.
However, there are methods to protect the tree and make it suitable for construction without the use of antiseptics and fire retardants, they are widely used in Europe, Asia, America.
What is the firing technology
1. Heat treatment of wood consists in burning softwood with a gas burner.
2. The whole procedure takes up to 10 minutes, then the material is immersed in water.
3. The board is taken out of the water, thoroughly washed and cleaned with the help of special metal brushes to get rid of carbon deposits.
If the firing is uniform, this allows you to create a charred layer on the surface of the board with a thickness of 1-5 mm. This work allows you to protect the material from water, harmful microorganisms, insects, and even fire. At the same time, such a board as a building material does not lose its own and can be used anywhere.
Thermal processing of wood at home with a certain skill actually allows the wood to become less susceptible to the effects of fire. Once the material is dry, it can be used for its intended purpose immediately. However, it can be endowed with even better characteristics if it is additionally treated with special oils.
A list of such oils can be found in any hardware store, and their range is very diverse. It is not worth advising a certain manufacturer, you just need to clarify that builders, as a rule, leave negative reviews about the cheapest oils.
Unmatched technology
It's amazing how effective wood heat treatment is, especially if you know that in Japan, burnt wood is used on the facades of almost every house. However, this is far from the only way to use this technology.
It is noteworthy that firing wood allows you to paint the material in a unique silver shade, which cannot be given by any paints. Moreover, the depth and saturation of this color directly depend on the skill of the master and, most importantly, the duration of the firing. For example, a board can go from gray to charcoal black. Naturally, the material resulting from this work could not fail to interest many designers and decorators.
Today, if you wish, burning wood with your own hands can be carried out quite simply, for this you only need precise adherence to the technology and skill. If you learn how to do this work, you will soon be able to use a unique material for interior decoration, flooring, and excellent furniture is obtained from it. At the same time, the processing of wood by burning allows you to make the wood more durable, and all you need is just to periodically apply oil impregnation to it.
Despite the fact that we live in an age of innovative technologies, wooden housing does not lose its relevance, continuing to conquer new horizons. The popularity of wooden buildings is due to the unique properties of wood, namely, its environmental safety and high wear resistance. However, in view of the peculiarities of its structure, wood needs proper protection, which will extend the service life of the material, while maintaining its original characteristics. Currently, it is customary to use chemicals for wood processing that have antiseptic and antifungal properties and prevent damage to lumber by insects, mold and other microorganisms, and also reduce the flammability of wood. Recently, supporters of environmentally friendly materials have begun to pay attention to another way of processing wood - firing. Despite the fact that it is considered to be innovative, and burnt wood is a novelty in the field of finishing materials, the first mention of the use of this method dates back to the 18th century. It was then that the Japanese first told the world about the unique technology of uniform processing of wood Shou Sugi Ban, which translated into Russian means "languishing cedar." As you know, everything new is a well-forgotten old, and today burnt wood is again at the peak of popularity. What are the advantages of fired wood and how to fire wood at home - we will consider in this article.
Wood burning technology: historical background
Despite the fact that domestic craftsmen not so long ago paid attention to burnt wood, in developed countries it has long been at the peak of popularity. For example, on the island of Naosami (Japan), burnt wood is widely used as a building material, and products from burnt wood are used in the interior decoration of the dwelling, for the manufacture of which the ancient Japanese technique of "languishing cedar" Shou Sugi Ban was used. Processing wood in accordance with this technique allows not only to make the texture of the material more distinct, but also to protect it from insects, decay, and fire. The history of this method of wood protection began in the 18th century, when the Japanese, thinking about fire protection of the territory, began to burn the plantations of Japanese cypress (also called Japanese cedar) growing around Japanese villages. Later, they noticed that the fired cypress wood not only did not lose its original properties, but also acquired additional decorative and operational qualities, becoming resistant to damage by fungus and insects. This became the starting point for the widespread use of fired wood for facade cladding.
Despite the fact that Japan is considered the homeland of fired wood, this method of processing sawn timber has been known almost on all continents since antiquity, when, along with resinification (impregnation of wood with hot resin), it was used as one of the most effective ways to protect wood from insects and decay. ... This is due to the structural features of the tree, which undergo some changes under the influence of open fire. Let's consider them in more detail.
Structural changes in wood under the influence of firing
The structure of wood is such that as the subcrustal layers grow, pores are formed in it, which leads to the gradual death of fibrous cells. The increased porosity of the structure and the gradual displacement of the fibers determine one of the most important performance characteristics of wood - its high hygroscopicity, that is, the ability to give and absorb water particles, depending on the difference between its own humidity and ambient humidity.
Another feature of wood is the unevenness of its structure. It is due to the formation of cellulose polymers, sugars and resins during the life of a tree, which are its main organic components and cause the main disadvantages of wood - flammability and the presence of a favorable environment for the reproduction of fungi and bacteria.
However, there are quite effective ways to reduce the exposure of wood to external influences. These include autoclave heating (thermolysis) and creosote cooking of wood, during which lumber is exposed to high temperatures (up to 300-400 degrees), which contribute to the destruction of unstable hemicellulose formations. They are the reason for the formation of easily combustible pyrolysis gases and, as a result, ignition. It is almost impossible to carry out such a treatment at home, but there are other, more affordable ways to partially block pores and remove most unstable polymer formations. These include wood burning.
Why bake wood and how will this affect its performance? During the firing process, the fiber channels of the wood narrow, as well as their clogging with resins and combustion products, which contributes to the extension of its service life.
In Russia, in order to burn wood, it was often simply thrown into a fire, which became a kind of prototype of the modern burning procedure. Often, only the lower part of the pillars, which were installed in the pits during the construction process, was burned, as well as logs and boards for the floor and roof. This phenomenon in Russia was called "smoking".
Benefits of charred wood
- Burnt wood can be made by yourself at home. To do this, it is not necessary to involve specialists, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the basic principles of firing and prepare the appropriate tools;
- The material prepared in this way acquires a high degree of fire safety, since re-ignition of wood is almost impossible;
- Due to the fact that in the process of burning wood, the destruction of cellulose components, which are a favorable breeding ground for bacteria and fungal microorganisms, occurs, its damage by insects, mold and bacterial microorganisms is practically excluded;
- Fired wood is characterized by a high degree of hygroscopicity.
Burnt wood photo
What is the firing procedure: types of firing
The appearance and decorative value of fired wood can vary and directly depend on the technique and depth of firing. Depending on the firing depth, there are three degrees of wood processing:
- Complete firing - a kind of heat treatment of wood, which makes sense to talk about when it comes to large-scale work. Complete burning of wood is carried out in vacuum furnaces at temperatures up to 400 degrees. Wood that has undergone a complete firing procedure is used extremely rarely, since, despite its initially high strength, not only decreases in size by almost half, but also loses its performance characteristics. However, this technique has found its application in the manufacture of furniture from charred wood;
- Deep firing - technology, more often used for previously used sawn timber. Having subjected the boards and beams to deep firing, you will notice that the entire thickness of the material has warmed up qualitatively, and its surface has acquired a more expressive appearance - the shade of such wood ranges from iridescent graphite to coal-black, which makes it possible to imitate valuable species. It is almost impossible to achieve such a deep black color by treating wood with other methods, due to which the value of the material has significantly increased in the eyes of modern designers. Deep burning of wood is carried out in open furnaces, and the permissible depth of burning of the upper layer of the material can reach 20 mm;
- Surface firing - the most popular method of heat treatment of wood at home and in industrial conditions, the essence of which is uniform firing of the material using a blowtorch or gas burner with the top layer burning up to 5 mm. The wood that has passed the firing procedure is polished, as a result of which it acquires not only the original texture, but also increased strength characteristics.
How to fire wood at home: a step-by-step guide
How to choose the right type of wood?
The first thing that needs to be decided before starting work is the choice of a suitable type of wood. The original Japanese technology of burning wood Shou Sugi Ban assumed the use of only cedar, however, over time, there was a gradual accumulation of experience in this technique, and views have changed somewhat. Today, it is believed that any wood is suitable to create the effect of burnt wood, but true connoisseurs of visual delights prefer the species with the most pronounced and original texture. These varieties include soft coniferous woods - pine and spruce, characterized by a pronounced pattern of annual rings.
Burnt beech and hornbeam wood, which is distinguished by its increased density, will look no less original. This causes only the top layer to burn out, due to which the wood acquires the original play of gray and anthracite shades.
No less popular are valuable wood species - maple, alder and poplar, which, after going through the firing procedure, acquire the famous elongated texture, as well as larch and walnut, on the surface of which fancy textured patterns of small sizes are formed. When preparing material for the construction and decoration of a bath or sauna, pay attention to birch - after firing it becomes very porous, due to which it acquires a low heat capacity and does not burn the skin when it comes into contact with it after heating.
How to prepare the material for firing?
The material to be fired requires careful preparation. It is important to ensure that the surface is clean, dry and smooth, paying particular attention to the absence of moisture on the surface. The moisture content of the wood should be no higher than 13-15%, since otherwise the effect of high temperature will lead to the formation of stripes and spots on the surface of the material, which will significantly reduce the quality of the work carried out. It is also important that no traces of paints and varnishes (paints or drying oils) are found on the surface of the wood, since after firing they will take on the appearance of stains and appear unevenly on the surface. However, this largely depends on the time of exposure to fire and the depth of work of the material.
Important! The ideal material for firing is freshly processed wood that has not had time to change its color and texture. Otherwise, it is necessary to re-grind it.
How to burn wood with a blowtorch?
Before firing, you must wait until the blowtorch nozzle turns red and the fire acquires a uniform purple hue.
Important! Fire of yellow color cannot be used for burning wood, since the surface of the processed material in this case will be covered with soot.
In order for a wood fired with a blowtorch to meet all the required standards, during its manufacture, the fire must be directed perpendicular to the board and held in such a way that only the end of the torch, where the temperature is highest, touches the surface of the material. In the process of work, the fire is moved slowly at a uniform speed, remembering that the latter depends on the temperature of the fire and the degree of dryness of the wood. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the uniformity and contrast of the pattern. To facilitate the work, it is recommended to put the processed material on stools, while at a time you can put 4-5 boards on them close to each other. The burnt boards are nailed to the wall in the same order in which they were laid on the stool during firing.
Important! In accordance with fire safety regulations, it is forbidden to burn boards nailed to the wall.
Important! If you want lumber with a contrasting pattern, look at softwood.
After you have fixed the boards on the wall, they must be covered with linseed oil or nitro varnish. You can also use urea-formaldehyde varnishes.
Remember that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight reduces the contrast of a blowtorch-burned wood, and therefore, it is not recommended to use it for external cladding of walls of a house located on the sunny side. On average, the contrast of wood under these conditions will decrease after two months.
How to burn wood with a gas burner?
The gas burner is used only for surface firing of sawn timber. This is due to the fact that the deeper holding of wood in the fire, as a rule, is not uniform, which contributes to the uneven thickness and width of the product.
When firing wood with a gas burner, only the edge of the torch, which has a light blue tint, is in contact with its surface. At the same time, the movements in their intensity, speed and range are similar to those for painting. The firing depth during material processing can be easily controlled by the degree of color change.
After the part has been fired, its surface is moistened using a hand spray gun. The time interval between firing and spraying should be the same for each piece of wood, therefore, it is important to carry out sequential processing of each piece. After the wood has cooled down, it is necessary to clean off the soot and carbon deposits from the firing process. To do this, use brass brushes that gently remove soot without damaging the surface of the material. In the process of mechanical processing, it is possible to additionally carry out an artificial aging of the wood, or the so-called brushing.
Important! Color solutions for furniture and furnishings made of fired wood differ in their variety and are realized through the use of acrylic paint. If your preference is for softwood, pine in particular, focus on ivory acrylic paint that is applied along the grain.
After machining the material, you can proceed with the installation of products. The structure of fired wood does not need additional protection, but, as practice shows, protective measures take place, and they are carried out mainly to preserve the original operational and decorative characteristics of the material, such as color, contrast and overall appearance. So, lining made of burnt wood for interior decoration is recommended to be coated with linseed or hemp oil, which is applied in several layers. Facade wood and other materials for exterior decoration are covered with two layers of colorless nitrocellulose varnish with the addition of synthetic wax, which are applied using a spray gun or brush.
Important! To protect the facade wood, it is necessary to use synthetic wax, in no case replacing it with natural, since the latter, due to its performance characteristics, will not lose its stickiness after processing. Before using technical varnish, it must be dissolved in turpentine heated to 40-45 degrees.
Burnt wood in the interior
The introduction of fired wood into widespread production has made it possible to solve topical issues in the design of interiors and exteriors. If the interior design involves the use of fired wood for the manufacture of doors, interior partitions and floors, then the exterior line offers materials for the construction of pergolas, balconies, terraces and awnings. A set of charred wood furniture, including a table made of charred wood and a set of chairs, in combination with finishing materials made of thermal wood, allows you to create a unique harmony in the territory being designed.
Today, burnt wood continues to be one of the fashion trends not only in construction, but also in the furniture industry.
Modern designers have learned to use charred wood furniture in almost all stylistic directions with a striking aesthetic effect, and today it will become an organic addition to various design concepts, from classic to ultra-modern eclecticism.
How to burn wood video
Yakisugi - Japanese wood processing technology"Languishing cedar" Is a Japanese technology for treating wood surfaces using fire. This simple process allows not only to show the texture of the wood, but also protects it from fire, decay and insects. The service life of such wood increases to 80 years, therefore it is used for cladding the facades of houses and building fences.
The story began in the 18th century with the massive burning for fire protection of sections of the Japanese cypress "Sugi", which densely covered Japanese villages. After a while, the residents understand that the burnt cypress wood is beautifully protected and amazing in beauty, the Japanese began to use it everywhere in construction.
But in fact, wood burning was used by almost all peoples, since in ancient times, along with resinification (impregnation of wood with hot resin), burning was itself a common way to protect wood from decay. The fact is that under the influence of high temperature in the process of pyrolysis in the outer layer of wood, the fiber channels narrow, they become clogged with resins and combustion products, which significantly strengthens the upper layer of wood and increases its service life. In the old days, an ordinary fire was used to burn wood. Very often logs, floorboards and roofing boards were burned. In Russia, this process was called "smoking".
The advantages of such wood after fire treatment:
Protected from fires
- Does not rot;
- Protected from insects and fungi;
- Ease of manufacture;
- Does not change appearance and color over time;
- Service life - up to 80 years.
Nowadays, a gas burner is most often used for burning wood. To achieve the desired effect, the resinous boards are folded into a triangular shape to form a box, and then fired for 7-10 minutes. The duration of the thermal effect affects the durability of the fired board and is determined by the type of wood, its moisture content, the thickness of the board and the desired effect from the structure and color. Then we extinguish the burning surface, clean it with iron brushes from ash residues and rinse with running water. Ready! Now this wood can be used for facade cladding, track or fence
The use of Japanese woodworking dates back to the 18th century. During that period, Sugi cypresses were burned in large quantities, which were the source of fires on the islands. Looking at the appearance of the charred wood, the local population became interested in the properties of the material obtained. After that, the Japanese began to widely use this practice of roasting. This technology is called Yakisugi, which means "cedar languor".
In Japan, among soft species, cedar is widely used in construction work. Such processing of wood with fire allows the texture to appear, and also eliminates the problems of rotting, burning in case of fire, damage by insects. In addition, the shelf life of the material is extended to several tens of years, and therefore it is used for facade work, the construction of fences and wall decoration.
However, these technologies for processing wood material are ancient, they were used by almost all peoples and tribes. The firing method and the use of hot resin for impregnation are very common. Their advantage is that the channels between the fibers become smaller and filled with resin, protecting the inside of the logs from the negative effects of physical factors.
An outer crust up to 0.5 cm thick is formed, which protects the inner layers of the logs. If earlier a fire was used for burning, today they use the fire of a burner or blowtorch. The method is suitable for the treatment of soft conifers, which are known for their hardiness and high oil content. These include pines, cedars, spruces, etc. Such forests are common in all regions of Russia, which is why the method is also known in these places.
Burnt wood properties
Japanese technology of wood processing by fire gives the material a deep gray shade, unusual reflections of gray hair and uneven surfaces. Japanese longing differs from other types of roasting: the material can be soaked with oils once every 4 years, painted and various decorative compositions can be applied to it. Although there are few people who want to change color, the resulting color is unusual and deep. By doing this, the service life of the material is extended.
Japanese craftsmen are very careful about nature and themselves, so they try to do without chemicals. Their method does a good job of antiseptics or fire retardants. In addition, fired material burns more slowly than unfired material, which is its advantage.
Woodworking is carried out as follows: parts are prepared from a material rich in resins, firing is carried out using a burner for 10 minutes, then immersed in water for rinsing. After washing with a wire brush, clean the surface from excessive roughness and carbon deposits. After all these measures, a thin charred layer remains, which can protect against moisture, microorganisms, insects, protozoa and fire.
Stewed cedar finish
After firing, the wood is used immediately, or it is still impregnated with oil. Homes finished with this method are found everywhere in Japan, which proves their strength and durability. The appearance of such houses is distinguished by a peculiar iridescent shade of gray, which cannot be achieved by mixing different colors. The range of shades of charred cover depends on the firing time: from silvery, brown to black tones. The resulting material is used not only when working with the facade, but also in the manufacture of furniture and other accessories for interior decoration.
You don't have to travel East to learn how to burn properly in Japanese. The method is simple, so you can watch a video that clearly shows the stages of the procedure, and independently test the technology, observing the fire safety rules. However, at home, the method is difficult to reproduce, since it is necessary to clog the pores and eliminate uneven polymers. If firing has been carried out correctly, the material cannot be re-ignited. And the formed residual heat will kill insects, bacteria and fungi located in the thickness of the wood, the outer layer will not allow them to penetrate into the thickness. The resulting wood can last 80 years after processing, while not requiring special care or biological treatment.