Firing wood: open flame processing technology. How to burn wood with a burner to darken it? Burnt wood floors

Burnt wood gives the facades of houses a noble - black and silver - shine. Moreover, it is a very reliable and environmentally friendly material.

V modern construction wood is usually treated with chemicals. But after all, houses of wood were built before, and some of them stand to this day. We invite you to get acquainted with the method of wood processing by firing and find out what is the advantage of this method.

How roasting affects wood

As the subcrustal layers of the tree grow, year after year, its fibrous cells die off due to the pores that form. The high porosity, in particular, explains the hygroscopicity of wood - its ability to absorb and release water molecules, depending on the difference between its own moisture content and the water vapor content in the ambient air.

The structure of wood fibers is always uneven: in the process of life, cellulose polymers of varying degrees of stability are formed in the tree, as well as sugars and resins of all kinds. It is the presence of pores and organic nutrient residues that determine the main disadvantages of wood: flammability and the presence of a nutrient medium for the development of bacteria and fungi.

The ability to "seal" wood from the influences of the outside world still exists. It is used during the creosote cooking of wood or in the autoclave heating process (thermolysis). When heated to 300-400 ° C, almost all unstable hemicellulose formations are destroyed, and it is they that serve both as a "launching pad" for the ignition of a tree (forming the primary volume of flammable pyrolysis gases), and as an initial nutrient medium for the development of colonies of harmful organisms.

At home, such wood processing is incredibly difficult to reproduce. But it is quite possible to partially clog the internal pores and remove most of the unstable cellulose polymers. Even superficial firing is capable of heating the outer layer (5–20 mm) of wood enough to melt lignin and resins and form an inorganic crust that protects against most external influences. After proper firing, it is practically impossible to re-fire the wood without intensive and prolonged heating up to 500–700 ° C. At the same time, the residual heat kills microorganisms remaining in the thickness of the tree, and the sintered outer layer does not allow the penetration of pathogenic organics from the outside.

Ornamental value of burnt wood

Much more interesting is the visual effect of burning wood. It was thanks to him that the processing technology was born in Japan wooden beams under the fancy name "Shu-Sugi-Ban", and the meticulousness of the Japanese to the interior design of dwellings is well known to all.

The appearance of wood processed in this way directly depends on the technique and the depth of firing, and there are three types of them. The first - surface firing - allows you to create a brown-brown surface with a golden sheen, on which the wood texture appears quite contrasting. The chemical and biological resistance of such wood is not high enough, therefore, surface-fired products are used, as a rule, in interior decoration. Due to the fact that the impact on the structure of the wood is minimal, because the firing affects only 2-5 mm below the surface, Decoration Materials can retain their lightness, that is, it is quite possible to process an ordinary lining in this way.

Deep firing of wood is used for older lumber, often for planks and beams already in use. This technique helps to "renew" the wood: to remove the dry surface gray layer and to warm up the entire thickness of the wood qualitatively. Due to this, the surface acquires a very expressive appearance: from iridescent graphite to coal-black imitation of rare noble rocks. Perhaps, such a depth of black color cannot be achieved by other methods, which is why deep-fired wood is so highly valued by designers.

The third degree of wood processing is complete burning. Actually, it ceases to be a tree altogether, turning, in fact, into a polymer-carbon plastic. At home, unfortunately, it is almost impossible to perform a complete firing: during the charring period, the fire will have time to eat almost half the thickness of the workpiece. This wood is used primarily in the manufacture of furniture. The technique guarantees the absolute uniqueness of each piece, because the characteristic pattern and formed splits cannot be reproduced in any way.

What species and what type of wood is better to burn

Any tree is generally suitable for firing, but connoisseurs of subtle visual delights will most of all like breeds with an expressive and unusual texture. V original technology of Japanese origin, cedar was originally used exclusively. Burnt hornbeam and beech wood has an interesting look: due to high density such a tree burns out only his upper layer, due to which anthracite and gray color overflows are achieved.

The more popular valuable species, such as alder, maple and poplar, exhibit an elongated texture after firing, while walnut or larch can form additionally smaller texture patterns. Burnt birch will be appreciated by lovers of a bath or sauna: due to firing, its surface becomes very porous and acquires a low heat capacity, therefore, after heating, it does not burn the skin.

It is also surprising that, depending on the degree of burning and the origin of the tree, even the same species can manifest itself in completely different ways. A thorough approach to the use of charred wood in decorative finishes should be taken: stock up on samples different types from different sources and, after a series of experiments, come to a certain choice.

Remember also that the wood must be properly prepared before firing. It should have a low moisture content, preferably no more than 12-13%, and also be natural, that is, without traces of painting and opening with drying oil. Otherwise, the absorbed resinous substances will appear unevenly on the surface and disturb the appearance. Of course, a lot here depends on the depth and time of the fire treatment.

Charcoal firing in the field

The easiest way to carry out a fire treatment is best for deep firing. Processed in this way decorative beams, and wood siding and a block house for exterior decoration... Due to deep heating, the wood becomes immune to weathering, and the influence sunlight it has no effect at all.

For charcoal firing, a narrow trench should be dug about 30 cm deep and width corresponding to the dimensions of the workpieces. A fire is made in the ditch, and as it burns, the wood is constantly stirred, achieving their rapid charring. After that, the ditch must be covered with either sheet metal or an OSB strip in order to temporarily prevent the access of oxygen and stop the combustion.

Before laying the workpiece in the coals, you need to rake the central groove so that not only the lower part is processed during firing, but also small areas on the sides. Exposure of the workpiece depends on the thickness and can be from two to three to fifteen minutes. After that, the workpiece is turned over to the opposite side, and then, after maintaining the same period of time, it is burned out on the sides.

It will be easier to remove the workpiece with a pair of steel wire hooks. After the tree has been removed from the coals, it is immediately doused with water.

How to burn wood with a gas burner

Using gas burners is much easier. These can be both hand-held camping lamps and ordinary nozzles connected to the cylinder via a hose.

It is convenient to use gas to treat wood only with superficial burning. Deeper fire holding will not be uniform enough, resulting in varying thickness and width of the product. In addition, a lot of gas is required for deep heating, while coals cost almost nothing.

For surface treatment, the wood is touched with the very edge of the light blue torch. The movements are conditionally the same as when painting. At the same time, it is quite easy to control the firing depth by the degree of darkening.

Firing is followed by wetting, but in this case, a conventional hand spray will suffice. It is important that the time interval between fire treatment and spraying with water is the same for all areas of each part, so treat it sequentially.

Finishing of charred wood

After the wood has cooled, carbon deposits and soot are removed from it. Use brass wire brushes for this, so as not to peel off excess. In the course of mechanical processing, invoicing or the so-called artificial aging of wood can also be carried out.

Cleaned products can be mounted immediately. Additional processing is needed not so much to protect the structure of the tree, but to preserve its color and appearance in general after years, as well as to eliminate stains. For interior decoration the lining is covered with linseed or hemp oil in several layers. Wood for the facade and other external work is covered 1-2 times with a colorless nitrocellulose varnish with the addition of synthetic wax: either with a brush along the grain, or with a spray gun.

Many people dream of environmentally friendly wooden housing on the shore of the lake. But the durability of the wood is of concern. Over time, it undergoes aging and decay. Despite this, natural wood very popular and widely used in interior decoration.

Wooden elements are treated with anti-mold compounds, fire-fighting oils. However, these substances are not always environmentally friendly. Not many people know that there is a great alternative - treating wood with fire. This method appeared several centuries ago.

In this article we will consider all the pros and cons of wood processing with fire, we will tell you about the features of this technology.

The history of the emergence of technology

The first mention of wood burning appeared at the beginning of the eighteenth century. At this time, the inhabitants of Japan massively burned cypresses. Seeing the burnt trunks of these trees, people became interested in their properties. In many ways, this was facilitated by the discovery of technology. After examining the wood after firing, the Japanese realized that this method of processing prevents the problem of rotting, insect damage and burning. After that, they began to apply the method everywhere. They gave the name to this technology - Yakisugi, which means "cedar languor". This is due to the fact that in Japan, cedar is most often used in construction. It is used in the manufacture of fences, walls and facades. The method of wood processing by burning allows to extend its life by tens of years.

It is noteworthy that a similar processing technique existed in Russia. She became a kind of prototype for modern firing. In this case, the material was simply placed on the fire. At the same time, it was burned only partially. Basically, the lower part of the pillars was subjected to fire treatment, which were then used for construction. In addition, boards for the roof and floor were burned. In Russia, this method was called "smoking".

Structural changes in wood during firing

The structure of the wood is such that when the layers grow under the bark, a kind of pores appear in it. As a result, the fibrous cells die off. Due to its high porosity and displacement of fibers, wood acquires the main and most valuable feature - excellent hygroscopicity. Due to this quality, it is able to give and absorb water depending on the difference in humidity. environment and his own.

The second no less significant feature is the uneven structure. This is due to the formation of cellulosic polymers, resins and sugars during the life of the tree. Such substances are the main organic components of the plant. They also determine the main disadvantages of wood - flammability and the formation of a favorable environment for fungi and pests.

In order to reduce the wood's exposure to external influences, several protection methods are used. First of all, it is autoclave heating and creosote cooking of wood. During the procedure, the material is exposed to high temperatures, due to which the hemicellulose formations are destroyed. They are the main cause of wood ignition. It is almost impossible to carry out such an operation at home. But there are a number of other more affordable methods for partially blocking pores and removing polymers. One of them is the burning of wood with fire.

Many people do not understand why wood should be treated this way. Experts know that firing contributes to the narrowing of the fiber channels of the tree. In addition, they become clogged with resins and combustion products. Thanks to this, the service life of the wood is extended by tens of years.

Burnt wood properties

The Japanese fire treatment of wood gives the material a special shade and emphasizes its natural unevenness. This method is different from the rest. After Japanese languishing, wood can be impregnated with various oils once every 4 years, which allows it to prolong its durability. In addition, paint can be applied to the surface. However, after processing wood with fire, few people want to change the color of the material.

Firing varieties

The appearance and decorative value of fire-treated wood can vary. It depends on the purpose of the material, its processing technology and the firing depth. Today there are three types of firing, differing in depth.

Complete firing

This type of wood processing by fire is carried out by placing the material in vacuum ovens. The temperature in them can reach 400 degrees Celsius. Fully fired wood is rarely used. This is due to the fact that, even having an initial high strength, after processing the wood loses its weight and greatly decreases in size. In addition, its performance properties are lost. But such wood is still used in the manufacture of furniture.

Deep firing

This process is carried out in open-type ovens. In this case, the depth of burning of the upper layer should not exceed two centimeters. This method is used for processing used wood. The surface, subjected to this firing method, acquires an exquisite appearance. The wood takes on a hue that can range from graphite to deep black. Thanks to this feature, imitation of valuable breeds is possible.

It is impossible to obtain such a wood color using other methods. Therefore, the material processed by deep firing is especially appreciated by designers.

Surface firing

This method is the most popular. Its essence lies in the uniform burning of wood with a gas burner. In this case, only the top layer is processed, the thickness of which does not exceed 5 millimeters. The popularity of this method is due to several factors. First of all, it is the availability of burners necessary for burning wood and the simplicity of the procedure itself. It is noteworthy that the material processed in this way acquires increased strength and unusual texture. Surface-fired wood is used both for interior decoration and for outdoor use.

Pros and cons of technology

Fire treatment of wood has several significant advantages. First of all, this technology excludes the use of chemicals that can cause potential harm to human health. The simplicity of the technology is equally important. You can burn wood at home without special skills. Wood processed using this technology is resistant to fire, which increases the degree of fire safety of the premises where it is used. This is due to the fact that the burnt wood does not re-ignite. Fire-treated wood is an environmentally friendly material that is protected from the effects of fungal organisms and bacteria. During the roasting process, the cellulose particles of wood are destroyed, which are a favorable environment for pests. Key feature consists in increasing the strength of the material by firing.

However, such wood also has one drawback - labor costs. The firing process involves not only processing with fire, but also its preliminary cleaning, and further processing with oils and varnish.

What types of wood are best suited for fire treatment

It is believed that any wood is suitable for firing. However, for those who want to get a unique visual effect, experts recommend using only certain breeds. It is noteworthy that initially only cedar was used in traditional Japanese technology. Later they began to fire beech and hornbeam. When burnt, such wood acquired a gray color, which shimmered beautifully in the light. This effect is achieved due to the burning out of the top layer of wood.

Today, species such as maple, alder, and poplar are especially popular in roasting. If you need to get a surface with a fine texture, then in such cases larch and walnut are used.

In the construction of baths, only birch is mainly used. This wood species becomes porous under the influence of fire and acquires a low heat capacity. Due to this, under the influence of temperatures, it cannot burn the skin.

An interesting fact is that the same wood can appear in different ways. This directly depends on the firing method. But in any case, it is important to properly prepare the material for processing.

The wood for firing should have a low moisture content. The maximum allowable is 13%. In addition, the material must be free of paint and varnish marks. It must be completely cleaned. In this case, this is important, because resinous substances absorbed into the wood will appear unevenly on its surface during firing. This will significantly spoil its appearance.

Do you need additional protection for wood after firing?

Burnt wood has whole line advantages over the usual, but it still needs additional protection. After initial cleaning, its surface is treated with oil. Then the product is covered with a layer of special protective varnish. If the charred wood will be used for outdoor use, it is best to cover it with synthetic wax. It, in turn, must be dissolved in turpentine. This will increase the protective properties of the wax several times.

Correct fire treatment can extend the life of wood and make it more environmentally friendly. It is noteworthy that today roasting is also used in horticulture. Fire treatment of shrubs, trees in early spring allows you to get rid of a number of diseases and pests. But the firing technology in this case is completely different.

However, wood also has disadvantages: moisture absorption, swelling, softening, natural natural decomposition (beetles and larvae, fungi and bacteria), oxidation ("burnout") in the light, etc. Therefore, for example, finishing a house with a facade board that has not been pre-processed in a special way will not allow you to protect and decorate the building for a long time.

Almost all the disadvantages can be effectively dealt with by heat treatment - drying and / or burning of wood (industrial or handicraft - burning with a blowtorch). The protection of wood by firing not only significantly prolongs the service life of wood products (up to 80 years, as the manufacturing companies assure), but is also popular design solution, as well as a measure of fire safety (since the flammable resins of the surface layer during firing are the first to burn out).

In the course of economic activity, a person discovered that it is possible to improve the quality of wood by prolonged soaking, digestion, staining, roasting, and resurfacing. As we can now understand, the listed processing techniques led to the destruction of existing disease agents (bacteria, fungi and larvae), drying (for dry techniques) to prevent the possibility of the emergence and development of diseases in a wet environment, clogging of the channels to prevent moisture absorption.

The process of firing a board assembled into a triangular cross-section firing channel. From an article on Shou Sugi Ban technique at www.shousugiban.com

This made it possible to make waterproof, rot-resistant utensils, durable weapons, to build ships and parts of mechanisms for working in water. Methods for improving the quality of wood and its protection can be divided into chemical and physical (heat treatment in an inert atmosphere, drying in high-frequency electric fields, wood burning). It is worth noting that it is erroneous to classify the former as non-environmentally friendly, and the latter as environmentally friendly. Chemical treatment products can be a product of wood processing without the addition of aggressive components and in this sense they will be eco-friendly, and burning wood to protect it from decay, on the contrary, can lead to the release and formation of potentially harmful substances in the wood itself. It all depends on the technologies used and the criteria for assessing safety.

Roasting and rewarding eventually grew to modern technology obtaining thermowood. As a result of drying and warming up (up to 150-270 degrees, possibly under increased pressure) in an inert environment (to prevent ignition; such a medium can be water vapor, oils), all possible "embryos" of decay and mechanical damage (larvae) are destroyed. Transformations occur at the level of molecules, the hardening of juices and resins, and as a result - blockage of the channels, which prevents moisture absorption. The tree becomes stronger and absorbs moisture significantly less, the carbon layer protects well against oxidation by air components and in the light. Others important result heat treatment is a change in the decorative characteristics of the material, the color changes (becomes more saturated), a beautiful texture appears (becomes more contrasting). Thanks to uniform drying, moisture absorption and salt release are prevented over time.

Thermowood cannot be obtained without sophisticated equipment. However, much can be achieved and a simpler method of heat treatment - firing. For a not too thick board, the effect of firing will be close to that achieved in the production of thermowood. Firing with open fire was and (is) used in the processing of barrels for storing and modifying alcohol, to improve the properties of weapons and kitchen utensils. Firing does not require special equipment, this procedure takes a little time, and it can be done handicraft.

On the other hand, interest in traditional technologies (and even with an appeal to environmental friendliness), nice results(original appearance, protection from decay and other diseases) with low resource costs became the reasons for the development of the production of fired wood on an industrial scale.

Burnt wood in the decoration of facades and fences. Exterior Solutions (www.shousugiban.co.uk)

For firing, coniferous wood is usually used (broad-leaved species are also used for interior decoration). It is pre-moistened to ensure uniform deep heating to charring and to raise the pile for better combustion, and then they are fired with burners or using various furnaces for several minutes until carbon deposits of the required depth are formed. Then the board is washed with water.

The carbon layer, if necessary, is removed with stiff brushes to the required depth (depending on whether you want to get a black-silver surface of charred wood or to show the original natural brown color of wood with a pattern dark to black, burnt deeper than less dense layers). Also, processing after firing is combined with brushing (scraping hard brushes) to display the characteristic relief of wood.

When self-firing wood, when there is no need to immediately obtain large volumes of finished material and requirements for its homogeneity, firing is carried out with manual gas burners. An alternative and more productive method is firing in braziers and ovens firing tunnels and boxes assembled from pre-prepared boards. As a result of firing, a beautiful and durable material is obtained, which can be used both for outdoor decoration (material for fences and fences, facade board / planken), and for decorating interiors, making furniture.

One of the now popular methods of roasting is attributed to the traditional Japanese technique Shou Sugi Ban - "Cedar roasting", an alternative term Yakisugi. But instead of roasting cypress (or rather Japanese Cryptomeria, otherwise known as "Japanese cedar", Sugi), they use a variety of available conifers, for example, larch.

In the Shou Sugi Ban technique, three boards are tied with hoops into a triangular cross-section of a fire tunnel. Such a pipe, when placed on a brazier or when filled with combustible burning material, contributes to the occurrence of draft and flame formation. In a few minutes, a layer of wood inside the tunnel burns out to the required depth, after which the box is disassembled, poured over with water, cleaned and dried.

Modern followers of Shou Sugi Ban use gas burners and dispense with fire tunnels. After the fire treatment, the wood is cleaned of excess sloughing carbon with iron brushes, and then coated with oil for better protection and giving the surface a characteristic shine and texture.

Decorated with small panels of different sizes, made using the Yakisugi technique. Exterior Solutions (www.shousugiban.co.uk)

Although firing itself is a means of protecting and blocking surface channels to prevent absorption of liquid, additional processing will not be superfluous. Especially when it comes to facade boards and elements decorative finishing exterior. Even charred wood changes its characteristic color over time under the influence of light and natural oxidizers of the air, therefore, to maintain its characteristic appearance (deep blackness, shine) for a long time without a periodic “refreshing” procedure with oil, it is worth covering the wood with UV-protective and water-repellent impregnation.

Since during the firing of the board, albeit a slight, but change in its dimensions occurs, it is better to firing before installation. However, if you want to fire the elements already mounted on the building, you can also perform their firing using gas and gasoline burners... In this case, you need to take measures fire protection and to prevent burnout to a depth at which the tightness and cohesion of the joints may be broken.

We learned how to remove paint from wood (we decided to restore an old coat rack, covered with a thick layer of dust and paintwork). To give her beautiful view and protect the wood, subject it to heat treatment. Firing the wood will produce a warm brown color. Further, depending on the result obtained and taste preferences, we will perform brushing.

After removing the paint, the hanger looked like this.

Preparation for firing

To burn wood, we need only two items: a gas burner and matches. For this work, a gas canister worth 80 rubles and a nozzle for it - 200 rubles are quite suitable for us.

Observe elementary safety rules during firing, do not direct the flame at yourself. The room must be well ventilated.

Wood burning

Firing is a fairly simple and quick procedure. We open the burner valve 1/4 - 1/2 turn, bring a match or a lighter, adjust the flame and start work. In our case, we will not burn the wood heavily, the goal is to achieve a soft Brown color... With uniform movements, we pass the flame over the entire surface.

As it turned out after firing, the hanger was made of two types of wood, the structure of the fibers was clearly manifested. The sides are more like pine, and everything else is a harder wood.

You can see the difference in the picture below.

To receive warm shade after firing, we will brush the wood. For brushing, a brush with a bristle of steel brass wire 0.3 mm thick or special circular brushes for a drill are often used.

It is imperative to brush it along the fibers, and not across, otherwise ugly stripes will appear on the tree. Due to brushing, soft fibers are selected, as a result, the surface becomes embossed, the structure is more pronounced.

Subsequently, it was decided to abandon the brush and make the top layer smooth and uniform, for this sandpaper with a grain of 60 is suitable, this can be called wood sanding.

The final stage

After brushing, we treat the surface with a colorless protective impregnation for wood and leave it to dry.

Here is such a hanger after carrying out simple manipulations with it: removing paint, firing, grinding.

1. Application
2. Wood requirements
3. Processing technology
4. We use a burner
5. Japanese way

Fire is the most dangerous enemy for wood and can quickly destroy any product made from it. It is strange to hear about the use of an open flame to process this material. With skillfully controlled surface firing, the characteristics of the wood are improved.

Application

Fire treatment of wood emphasizes the natural structure, enhancing the contrast of the pattern, creates further resistance to decay, UV damage,. In addition, this material acquires refractory properties. The superficial loose layer, when burned, closes the channels and pores of the wood, creating sunlight and wind. Protect various impregnations and antiseptics from destruction. However, such products are expensive, contain chemical additives and can be toxic. Flame processing is environmentally friendly, economical, does not require high professional skills.

Burnt wood looks aesthetically pleasing in the interior. This is how home brushing is performed - artificial aging of products and furniture: chests of drawers, tables, chairs, panels, baguettes, caskets. You can burn material for installing lags floor coverings, window frames, frames, doors, stairs, gazebos, technical buildings, benches, well log cabins, fences. If it is necessary to process complex massive structures, it is advisable to burn wooden parts before assembling the structures in order to successfully perform the subsequent cleaning of hard-to-reach places. Working with prefabricated structures is risky: you can not follow the direction and strength of the flame, and this will lead to a fire. For inexperienced craftsmen, it is better to start with small boards or products.

Wood requirements

Deciduous trees - maple, birch, beech, cherry, alder and others - cannot be treated with fire. It is advisable to burn only conifers: cedar, larch, spruce, pine. Their soft texture results in a beautiful, smudge-free material. For decorative items, a canvas of any quality is suitable: with knots, complex bends, eyes - the more effective the result will be. Burning soft fibers form cavities, hard ones will become more prominent, after cleaning this will provide a textured contrasting surface. It is possible to process wooden parts, chipboard panels sheathed with coniferous veneer. If you need burnt wood for large-scale construction works, it is better to choose a higher quality one, without defects in the structure.

Fresh material does not have to be pre-cooked before firing: the flame will remove all roughness, replacing grinding. Think about appearance will have to be done after the wood has been treated with fire. It is enough to clean off the resin drips from the lumber. In the event of a fire, all work will be spoiled. If the surface of furniture or other product has been previously covered with putty, paint or varnish, their remains are sanded to prevent unexpected ignition and to protect against stains that cannot be cleaned. Wood impregnated with stain is fired according to the general rules. Coated surfaces cannot be processed. It is better to sand the old darkened wooden canvas, having reached the fresh fibers, in order to get an outwardly beautiful material at the finish.

The wood to be fired must not be wet. This is especially true for fresh boards. 15% is the acceptable upper limit of moisture content.

Processing technology

In industry, large blocks of wood are fired in special vacuum ovens. In this case, the thickness of the combustible layers can be up to 20 mm. It is difficult to do this work at home. You can protect the material from destruction and make it beautiful with the help of household tools.

Before starting work, you need to take care of the safety of the surrounding space and the objects in it. Firing should be done outdoors in calm weather. Small boards can be processed on the balcony, large items must be taken outside. In this case, it is imperative to remove paper, plywood, cardboard products, rags, textiles, flammable chemical agents... It is advisable to work on a refractory stone surface, metal sheet.

Suitable for firing as a source of flame:

• powerful blowtorch;
• construction hair dryer;
• burner;
• gas cylinder with a special nozzle;
• dremel.

In addition to fire and wood, you will need a tool to cleanse the burnt layers. If you plan to work on small blocks and planks, a stiff metal brush is a good choice. Large-scale structures - large furniture, floors, stairs, buildings - it is more convenient to clean with a professional grinder, a saw-grinder, a drill with a special attachment.

To sweep the remains of burning, a flute is required - a brush with a soft bristle.

All work is carried out, protecting eyes, hands and clothing from possible sparks and burning. A bucket or other utensil of water is placed nearby to extinguish unforeseen flashes of fire.

We use a burner

Firing with a gas burner is the most convenient. The flame should be even, calm, oblong and have a blue tint. The most high fever required for pyrolysis is located at the top. Strong yellow fire is not allowed for firing. For successful flame treatment, it is evenly carried out several times over the surface. The movements should resemble the painting of the material with a brush. Better to start from the top. The burnt board must be burnt to a depth of about 4 mm. For training, an inexperienced master can try to burn unnecessary trimmings, achieving a high result.

When the surface is evenly charred, the loose burnt layer is cleaned with a prepared tool. Use a brush or grinder to work along the fibers so as not to damage the structure. At the same time, they use a flute, getting to the deeply hidden particles of burning, cleaning them out. The cleaning process is painstaking and laborious. This must be done carefully and carefully, removing the detached soot completely, otherwise the material will look ugly. The quality of work is checked by wiping the wood with a napkin or soft cloth. To enhance the relief, give the wood the look of real antiques, repeat pyrolysis and brushing.

As a result of processing, a relief surface is obtained from dark golden to chocolate shades. If desired, an aniline-based dye is applied to the surface or the topcoat is immediately applied. You can use tinted primers, oil primers, nitrocellulose colorless varnishes, waxes.

Japanese way

Using this technology, only the top layer of ash is removed from the wood, the boards are washed in water, and then impregnated with tung oil, which has antiseptic and moisture-repellent properties. The processed material will acquire a noble black and silver shade and shine. The modern approach allows for ease of use gas burner, although in the old days, for such purposes, a tree was simply put into a fire or stove. Firing allowed Japanese craftsmen to protect wooden structures and residential buildings from the spread of fires - the ash layer is practically immune to the effects of fire.

The service life of fired wood is increased several times. As a care, it is enough to varnish or impregnate it once every 1-2 years.