Wood burning technologies

Burning wood is an ancient method that is completely sustainable, but perhaps a little unfairly forgotten. Once upon a time, people noticed that burnt wood retains its natural qualities longer, and this technique was natural and harmless, and therefore in demand. Today, wood can be treated with a variety of impregnations, varnished or painted. Its characteristics will change, the material will be more durable and reliable, but such processing has its drawbacks. This means that an alternative such as firing should also be considered.

Of course, going to a building market, buying varnish and covering a wooden product with it is the easiest way. But the chemical composition of the varnish constantly releases fumes into the environment, albeit small, but harmful to human health. This is facilitated by temperature effects, sunlight and even the operation of heating radiators. Finally, not all materials are easy to process; a different approach is required. This is where wood burning comes to the rescue.

It works like this: during heating, which is constantly under the control of the master, processes are started in the outer wood layer that stimulate the narrowing of the fibers. And the outer pores are covered with soot and tar.

Such a decorative way of changing the characteristics of wood is still not very difficult. And although you have to deal with fire, the technique itself is elementary. Usually, gas burners are used for firing. There should be safety equipment nearby: a fire extinguisher and a bucket of sand. In ancient times, craftsmen managed with torches, the log was gradually turned over on leather ties. This could be called both roasting and languor. Cedar, ash, beech and maple were taken more often than other species.

It is very important that the material itself does not burn during the firing process, namely, it is scorched... This added special beauty to it, protected it from moisture and decay, pathogenic organisms. After firing, it was necessary to remove carbon deposits, rinse the workpieces and soak them in oil. In addition to protection, the tree acquired a special shade. Today, in this way, wooden products are given an "antique" effect. The service life of such a product increases considerably.

In construction and other areas, firing is often used. In addition to giving a special texture to the wood, this method is good for other reasons.

The obvious advantages of firing wood:

• complex chemicals do not need to be used - everything will be natural;
• if you follow the technology, the method is not complicated, and a special firing workshop is not required;
• the material becomes fire-resistant, wear-resistant, and ceases to be vulnerable to microorganisms.

High temperatures lead to the decomposition of hemicellulose formations in wood under their influence. During combustion, they form pyrolysis gases, the main feature of which is easy ignition. That is, the tree will become resistant to fire. It turns out that the problem of fire is solved by the "wedge by wedge" method.

There is only one significant minus - laborious process.

Cedar was originally the most susceptible to roasting.Beech and hornbeam can also be considered trees with the same texture as pliable cedar. Trees have high-density layers, so it is the top layer that burns. This is the main requirement for the material to be fired.

The habitual poplar and maple, after fire treatment, acquire a very interesting pattern of woody structure. The drawing of conifers is especially beautiful. This structure is inimitable, unique, and this decorativeness is especially appreciated.

There are at least 3 heat treatment options. The type of processing depends not only on the shade, but also on the properties of the tree.

This option is used more often than others. You won't have to spend a lot of time, special training is not needed, as well as big expenses. Such firing is carried out at home: they take a blowtorch or a gas burner. The wood is fired to a depth of no more than 5 mm.

This method is popular among those who want to artificially age wood. This type of firing is usually used to decorate the timber. The shade of the wood will depend more on the time of exposure. The wood can become graphite, or it can become coal-black, that is, the changes will be dramatic. Such a dark tree is used to decorate panels, garden paths. The firing depth can be up to 20 mm.

And this method of processing is less in demand, but only due to the fact that it is not available to everyone. The fact is that it will work out like this to burn wood. only at a temperature of about 400 degrees... And this requires vacuum ovens. Therefore, this type of processing will not be massive. And it makes no sense to use it for large volumes of wood: they will be halved after processing.

On an industrial scale, large volumes of wood are fired in vacuum ovens. Wood layers up to 20 mm thick can burn off. It is difficult to achieve such an effect at home, but other, more modest results are also impressive. And most importantly, they can be achieved with the help of more accessible tools.

A source of flame for firing can be:

• high power blowtorch;
• gas-burner;
• construction hair dryer;
• gas cylinder with nozzle, etc.

You will also need a tool that will clean off the burnt layers. If small planks are to be burned, the amount of work is not very significant, you can get by with a simple metal brush. But it is convenient to take on massive structures, for example, furniture, stairs, floors and even buildings, using a grinder, a grinder saw, or even a drill with a nozzle.

The remains of burning will also have to be swept, and a flute, a soft-bristled brush, copes well with this. Naturally, all work must be carried out in compliance with all safety measures. It is imperative to protect your eyes, clothing and hands so that sparks and fumes do not threaten them. A bucket of sand, water, and a fire extinguisher should be within easy reach.

How to carry out firing at home can be seen using a standard burner as an example. Let's consider step by step the processing of a wooden workpiece with a gas burner.

1. The flame of the device must be kept calm, even, bluish. But they do not burn with yellow fire.
2. To process the tree evenly, it is necessary to run the tool over the surface several times... The movements should be the same as if the board was painted with a brush. It is more convenient to start from the upper part. The burnt board must be 4 mm deep.
3. Use a brush or a sander to walk along the grain of the tree, taking care not to damage the structure of the material. At the same time, flutes are also used.
4. The cleaning process (you need to be prepared for this) is very painstaking and laborious. The detached soot must be removed completely.If you ignore this moment, the workpiece will not look beautiful.
5. You can check the quality of the work done by yourself as follows: the wood is wiped with a napkin and a soft cloth. To enhance the relief, you can use firing again, followed by brushing.

The result of such work is a relief surface, the shade of which can be from pale golden to rich chocolate. Sometimes a layer of aniline dye is placed next to the surface.

How to process wood using Japanese pyrolysis technology.

1. The top ash layer must be removed from the wood. The boards must be rinsed in water, and then thoroughly soaked in vegetable oil. This will help the tree become moisture-repellent and antiseptic.
2. The finished material will become dark silvery, shiny. In the old days, this effect was achieved by simply sending the tree to the stove or fire, today they turn to the burner.

Japanese craftsmen, who burned wooden surfaces in this way, protected houses from fires. A layer of ash is not afraid of fire, therefore, for objects and objects located on the street, the Japanese method of firing is optimal.

Wood product processing blowtorch carried out with an extremely hot instrument. Fire is directed only perpendicular to the surface. How long it will last depends on the workpiece and the end use of the firing. All manipulations must be carried out measuredly, without haste. The surface should gradually acquire contrast. Then the product is sanded, treated with linseed oil or with the same varnish.

In principle, the material can be left in the same form, without changing anything, without resorting to any impregnations. But many masters are sure that all the same varnish saturate with oil a beautiful, updated tree will not be superfluous. Especially considering that this will increase the level of security of the material.

The oil also better emphasizes the decorative characteristics of the tree. And it will be used in this form even longer. And then you can also apply varnish on top of this treated surface, preferably nitrocellulose. A mixture of varnish and artificial wax is also suitable. But if it is the front wood that needs to be processed, a turpentine-wax solution will be an excellent composition.

The best way to impregnate burnt wood is oil. Tung, linseed and hemp are ideal. It is more convenient to apply the liquid with a brush, although a spray gun will work. And this is the most environmentally friendly processing option (in conjunction with firing).

Tinted synthetic oil compositions are also used, they can visually transform simple wood species into noble ones. They accentuate the wood structure very favorably, protect it from external aggressive influences.

The fired material is used to make beautiful boxes, large wall panels, and baguettes. From it it will turn out to make extravagant tables, chairs, solid dressers and cabinets. Decorating the walls with such textured wood is also attractive, especially in interiors that favor this - from a chalet to a loft.

For information on how to burn a tree with your own hands, see the next video.