Wood burning with a gas burner, wood brushing. We continue to restore the old hanger. Burnt wood: how is it better than ordinary wood and where is it used? Burning and painting wooden boards

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, due to the peculiarities of its structure, wood needs proper protection, which will extend the life of the material, while maintaining its original characteristics. It is now customary to treat wood with chemicals that have antiseptic and antifungal characteristics and prevent damage to lumber by insects, mold and other microorganisms, as well as reduce the flammability of wood. Recently, supporters of environmentally friendly materials have begun to pay attention to another way of processing wood - roasting. 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 wood processing Shou Sugi Ban, which in Russian means "cedar languishing". 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 burnt wood and how to burn wood at home - we will consider in this article.

Wood burning technology: historical background

Despite the fact that domestic craftsmen have recently 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 in the interior of the dwelling, burnt wood products are invariably used, for the manufacture of which the ancient Japanese technique of “cedar languishing” 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 protecting wood began in the 18th century, when the Japanese, thinking about fire protection of the territory, began to burn plantations of Japanese cypress (also called Japanese cedar) growing around Japanese villages. Later, they noticed that the burnt cypress wood not only retained its original properties, but also acquired additional decorative and operational qualities, becoming resistant to fungus and insects. This was the starting point for the widespread use of burnt wood for facade cladding.

Despite the fact that Japan is considered the birthplace of burnt wood, this method of processing lumber has been known on almost all continents since antiquity, when, along with tarnishing (wood impregnation 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, under the influence of open fire, undergoing some changes. 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 subcortical layers grow, pores form 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 qualities of wood - its high hygroscopicity, that is, the ability to give and absorb water particles, depending on the difference between its own moisture content and that of the environment.

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 - combustibility and the presence of a favorable environment for the reproduction of fungi and bacteria.

However, there are quite effective ways to reduce the susceptibility 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), contributing to the destruction of unstable hemicellulose formations. They are the cause of the formation of easily combustible pyrolysis gases and, as a result, ignition. It is almost impossible to carry out such treatment at home, however, there are other, more affordable ways to partially clog pores and remove most unstable polymer formations. These include the burning of wood.

Why burn wood and how will it affect its performance? During the firing process, the fiber channels of the wood narrow, as well as their blockage with resins and combustion products, which helps to extend its service life.

In Russia, in order to burn wood, it was often simply thrown into a fire, which became a kind of prototype for the modern firing procedure. Often, only the lower part of the pillars were burned, which were installed in the pits during the construction process, as well as logs and boards for the floor and roof. This phenomenon in Russia was called "smoking".

The Benefits of Burnt 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 during the burning of wood, the destruction of cellulose components, which are a favorable nutrient medium for bacteria and fungal microorganisms, is practically excluded from damage by insects, mold and bacterial microorganisms;
• Burnt wood is characterized by a high degree of hygroscopicity.

Burnt wood photo

What is the firing procedure: firing types

The appearance and decorative value of burnt wood can vary and directly depend on the technique and depth of firing. Depending on the depth of firing, there are three degrees of wood processing:

• Full firing - a kind of heat treatment of wood, which makes sense to talk about when it comes to large-scale work. Full firing of wood is carried out in vacuum furnaces at temperatures up to 400 degrees. Wood that has undergone a full roasting procedure is used extremely rarely, because, despite its initially high strength, it 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 burnt wood;
• deep firing - a technology more often used for lumber that was previously in use. Having subjected the boards and beams to deep firing, you will notice that the entire thickness of the material warmed up qualitatively, and its surface acquired a more expressive appearance - the shade of such wood ranges from iridescent graphite to jet black, which makes it possible to imitate valuable species. Such a deep black color is almost impossible to achieve by treating wood with other methods, thanks to which the value of the material has increased significantly in the eyes of modern designers. Deep firing of wood is carried out in open kilns, and the permissible depth of burnout 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 at work, the essence of which is the uniform firing of the material using a blowtorch or gas burner with the top layer burning up to 5 mm. The wood that has undergone the firing procedure is polished, as a result of which it acquires not only the original texture, but also increased strength characteristics.

How to burn wood at home: a step by step guide

How to choose the right type of wood?

The first thing you need to decide before starting work is the choice of a suitable type of wood. The original Japanese wood burning technology Shou Sugi Ban involved the use of only cedar, but 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 for creating the effect of burnt wood, however, true connoisseurs of visual delights prefer species with the most pronounced and original texture. These varieties include soft coniferous woods - pine and spruce, characterized by a distinct pattern of annual rings.

Burnt beech and hornbeam wood, which is characterized by increased density, will look no less original. This causes only the top layer to burn through, due to which the wood acquires original overflows of gray and anthracite shades.

No less popular are precious woods - maple, alder and poplar, which, after firing, acquire the famous elongated texture, as well as larch and walnut, on the surface of which bizarre 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 in contact with it after heating.

How to prepare material for firing?

The material to be fired needs careful preparation. It is important to ensure that its surface is clean, dry and smooth, paying special attention to the absence of moisture on the surface. The moisture content of the wood should be no higher than 13-15%, otherwise the exposure to 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 being done. It is also important that traces of paints and varnishes (paints or varnishes) are not found on the surface of the wood, since after firing they will take the form of spots and appear unevenly on the surface. However, this largely depends on the time of exposure to fire and the depth of the material.

Important! The ideal material for firing is freshly treated wood that has not had time to change its color and texture. Otherwise, you need to re-grind it.

How to burn a tree with a blowtorch?

Before starting firing, it is necessary to wait until the blowtorch nozzle turns red, and the fire acquires a uniform purple hue.

Important! Yellow fire cannot be used to burn wood, as the surface of the processed material will be covered with soot in this case.

In order for a wood burned with a blowtorch to meet all the required standards, in the process of 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, comes into contact with 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, the material to be processed is recommended to be placed on stools, while 4-5 boards can be placed on them at a time close to each other. The fired boards are nailed to the wall in the same order in which they lay 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 to get lumber with a contrasting pattern, pay attention to softwood.

After you have fixed the boards on the wall, they must be covered with drying oil or nitro-lacquer. You can also use urea-formaldehyde varnishes.

Remember that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight reduces the contrast of wood burned with a blowtorch, and therefore, it is not recommended to use it for exterior wall cladding of houses located on the sunny side. On average, the contrast of wood under such conditions will decrease after two months.

How to burn a tree with a gas burner?

The gas burner is used only for surface firing of lumber. 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.

Carrying out the burning of wood with a gas burner, they come into contact with its surface only with the edge of the torch, which has a light blue tint. At the same time, movements in their intensity, speed and scope are similar to those during painting. The depth of firing during the processing of the material can be easily controlled by the degree of change in its color.

After the part has been fired, its surface is wetted using a hand sprayer. The time interval between firing and spraying should be the same for each section of the wood, and therefore it is important to consistently process each part. After the wood has cooled down, it is necessary to clean off the soot and deposits formed during 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 produce artificial aging of wood or the so-called brushing.

Important! Color solutions for furniture and finishing materials made of burnt wood are distinguished by their diversity and are realized through the use of acrylic paint. If you prefer softwoods, in particular pine, focus on ivory acrylic paint, which is applied along the fibers.

After machining the material, you can proceed to the installation of products. The structure of burnt 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. Exterior wood and other exterior materials are coated with two coats of colorless nitrocellulose varnish with the addition of synthetic wax, which are applied with an airbrush or brush.

Important! To protect facade wood, it is necessary to use synthetic wax, in no case replacing it with natural wax, since the latter, due to its performance characteristics, will not lose 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 burnt wood into a wide production allowed solving topical issues in the design of interiors and exteriors. If the interior design involves the use of burnt wood for the manufacture of doors, interior partitions and floors, then the exterior line offers materials for the construction of pergolas, balconies, terraces and canopies. A burnt wood furniture set, including a burnt wood table and a set of chairs, together with thermal wood finishing materials, allows you to create a unique harmony in the design area.

To date, 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 complement to various design concepts, from classic to ultra-modern eclecticism.

How to burn a tree video

1. Application
2. wood requirements
3. Processing technology
4. We use the 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

The treatment of wood with fire emphasizes the natural structure, enhancing the contrast of the pattern, creating further immunity to decay, damage from ultraviolet radiation,. In addition, such material acquires refractory properties. The surface loose layer, burning, closes the tubules and pores of the wood, creating sunlight and wind. Various impregnations and antiseptics protect against destruction. However, these products are expensive, contain chemical additives, and can be toxic. Flame treatment is environmentally friendly, economical, does not require high professional skills.

Burnt wood in the interior looks aesthetically pleasing. 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 floor joists, window casings, frames, doors, stairs, gazebos, technical buildings, benches, well log cabins, fences. If it is necessary to process complex massive structures, it is desirable to fire wooden parts before assembling the structures in order to successfully carry out subsequent cleaning of hard-to-reach places. Working with prefabricated structures is risky: you can not keep track of the direction and strength of the flame, and this will lead to a fire. It is better for inexperienced craftsmen 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 desirable to burn only conifers: cedar, larch, spruce, pine. Their soft structure allows you to end up with a beautiful material without stains. For decorative products, a canvas of any quality is suitable: with knots, complex bends, eyes - the more effective the result will be. Burning soft fibers form depressions, hard ones become more prominent, after cleaning this will provide a textured contrasting surface. It is possible to process wooden parts, chipboard boards sheathed with coniferous veneer. If you need burnt wood for large-scale construction work, it is better to choose a better one, without structural defects.

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

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

Processing technology

In industry, large massifs of wood are fired in special vacuum furnaces. The thickness of the combustible layers in this case can reach 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. Roasting should be done outdoors in calm weather. Small boards can be processed on the balcony, large items must be taken out into the street. At the same time, paper, plywood, cardboard products, rags, textiles, flammable chemicals must be removed from nearby surfaces. It is advisable to work on a refractory stone surface, metal sheet.

Suitable for firing as a source of flame:

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

In addition to fire and wood, you will need a tool to clean the burnt layers. If you plan to process small bars and planks, a stiff metal brush is well suited. Large-scale structures - large furniture, floors, stairs, buildings - are more convenient to clean with a professional grinder, grinder saw, drill with a special nozzle.

To sweep the remnants of burning, a flute is required - a brush with soft bristles.

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

We use the burner

Firing with a gas burner is the most convenient. The flame should be even, calm, oblong and have a blue tint. The highest temperature required for pyrolysis is located at the top. Strong yellow fire for firing is unacceptable. For successful flame treatment, the flame is evenly carried out several times over the surface. The movements should resemble painting the material with a brush. It is better to start from the top. The burnt board needs to burn through to a depth of about 4 mm. To train an inexperienced master, you 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. A brush or grinder works 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 time-consuming. 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, to give the wood a look of real antiques, pyrolysis and brushing are repeated.

As a result of processing, a relief surface is obtained from dark golden to chocolate shades. Optionally, an aniline-based dye is applied to the surface or a top coat is made immediately. You can use tinted priming mixtures, oil primers, nitrocellulose clear varnishes, waxes.

Japanese way

According to 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 water-repellent properties. The processed material will acquire a noble black-silver hue and shine. The modern approach allows the use of a gas burner for convenience, although in the old days, wood was simply put into a fire or oven for such purposes. Roasting 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 the burnt wood increases several times. As a care, it is enough to cover it with varnish or impregnation once every 1-2 years.

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

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 - wood processing by fire. This method appeared several centuries ago.

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

History 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 contributed to the discovery of technology. After examining the wood after it was fired, the Japanese realized that this method of processing prevented the problem of rotting, insect damage, and burning. After that, they began to apply the method everywhere. They gave the name of this technology - Yakisugi, which means "cedar languishing". This is due to the fact that in Japan, cedar is most often used in construction. It is used in the manufacture of fences, wall and facade decoration. The method of processing wood by burning allows you to extend its life for decades.

It is noteworthy that a similar processing technique existed in Russia. It became a kind of prototype of modern firing. The material in this case was simply placed in the fire. At the same time, it was only partially burned. 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 fired. In Russia, this method was called "smoking".

Structural changes in wood during firing

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

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

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

Many people do not understand why wood should be subjected to such treatment. Experts also know that firing contributes to the narrowing of the fiber channels of the tree. In addition, they are clogged with resins and combustion products. Thanks to this, the service life of wood is extended by decades.

Burnt wood properties

Japanese fire treatment of wood gives the material a special shade and emphasizes its natural irregularities. This method is different from others. After Japanese languor, wood can be impregnated with various oils once every 4 years, which allows you to extend its strength. 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.

Varieties of firing

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

Full firing

This type of wood processing by fire is carried out by placing the material in vacuum furnaces. The temperature in them can reach 400 degrees Celsius. Wood that has undergone full firing is rarely used. This is due to the fact that, even with the initial high strength, after processing, the wood loses its mass and greatly decreases in size. In addition, its operational properties are lost. But such wood is still used in the manufacture of furniture.

deep firing

This process is carried out in open ovens. In this case, the depth of burnout of the upper layer should not exceed two centimeters. This method is used for processing wood that was in use. The surface, subjected to this firing method, acquires a refined appearance. The wood acquires a hue that can vary from graphite to deep black. Thanks to this feature, it is possible to imitate valuable breeds.

It is impossible to obtain such a tree color using other methods. Therefore, the material processed using 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 upper 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, this 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 an unusual texture. Surface fired wood is used both for interior decoration and for outdoor work.

Pros and cons of technology

Fire treatment of wood has several significant advantages. First of all, this technology eliminates the use of chemicals that can potentially harm human health. Equally important is the simplicity of the technology. You can burn wood at home without any special skills. Wood treated with 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 burned wood does not ignite again. Fire-treated wood is an environmentally friendly material, protected from the effects of fungal organisms and bacteria. During the firing process, the cellulose particles of wood are destroyed, which are a favorable environment for pests. The key feature is to increase the strength of the material through firing.

However, such wood has one drawback - labor costs. The firing process involves not only fire treatment, 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 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 process beech and hornbeam with fire. Burning, such wood acquired a gray color, which shimmered beautifully in the light. This effect can be achieved by burning the top layer of wood.

To date, such species as maple, alder, 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, mainly only birch is used. This type of wood under the influence of fire becomes porous 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 differently. It directly depends on the firing method. But in any case, it is important to properly prepare the material for processing.

The wood to be fired must have a low moisture content. The maximum allowable is 13%. In addition, the material should not have traces of paint coatings. It must be completely cleansed. In this case, this is important, because the resinous substances absorbed into the wood will appear unevenly on its surface during firing. This will significantly spoil its appearance.

Do I need additional protection for wood after firing?

Burnt wood has a number of advantages over conventional wood, but it still needs additional protection. After initial cleaning, its surface is treated with oil. Then the product is covered with a layer of a special protective varnish. If the burnt wood will be used for outdoor work, 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.

Proper fire treatment can extend the life of wood and make it more environmentally friendly. It is noteworthy that today firing is also used in horticulture. Fire treatment of shrubs and 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.

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

How does firing affect wood?

As the subcortical layers of the tree grow, year after year, its fibrous cells die off due to the formation of pores. 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 humidity and the content of water vapor in the surrounding 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 various types. It is the presence of pores and organic nutrient residues that determine the main disadvantages of wood: combustibility 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 process of autoclave heating (thermolysis). When heated to 300-400 ° C, almost all unstable hemicellulose formations are destroyed, and it is they that serve as both a “launching pad” for igniting a tree (forming the primary volume of flammable pyrolysis gases) and 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 surface firing can heat 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, wood is almost impossible to re-ignite without intense and prolonged heating to 500-700 °C. At the same time, residual heat kills microorganisms that remain in the thickness of the tree, and the sintered outer layer does not allow the penetration of pathogenic organic matter from the outside.

Decorative value of burnt wood

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

The appearance of wood treated in this way directly depends on the technique and 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 a wooden texture appears quite contrastingly. 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 tree is minimal, because firing affects only 2-5 mm under the surface, finishing materials can retain their lightness, that is, it is quite possible to process ordinary lining in this way.

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

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

What species and what type of wood is best to burn

Any wood is generally suitable for firing, but connoisseurs of subtle visual delights will most of all like rocks with an expressive and unusual texture. The original technology of Japanese origin originally used exclusively cedar. Burnt hornbeam and beech boards have an interesting look: due to the high density of such a tree, only its top layer burns through, due to which anthracite and gray overflows of color are achieved.

More popular valuable species such as alder, maple and poplar show an elongated texture after firing, while walnut or larch can form additional finer textured patterns. Burnt birch will be appreciated by lovers baths or saunas: 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 roasting and the origin of the wood, even the same breed can manifest itself in completely different ways. The use of burnt wood in decorative finishes should be carefully approached: stock up on samples of different types from different sources and, after a series of experiments, come to a definite choice.

Remember also that the wood must be properly prepared before firing. It should have a low humidity, 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 ruin the appearance. Of course, here much depends on the depth and time of processing by fire.

Roasting on coals in the field

The easiest way to do fireworking is best for deep firing. Decorative beams are processed in this way, as well as wooden siding and a block house for exterior decoration. Due to deep heating, the wood becomes immune to atmospheric influences, and the influence of sunlight does not affect it at all.

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

Before laying the workpiece in the coals, it is necessary to rake the central furrow so that during firing, not only the lower part is processed, but also small areas on the sides. The exposure of the workpiece depends on the thickness and can range 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 burnt on the sides.

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

How to burn wood with a gas burner

Usage gas burners not an example easier. These can be either hand-held camping lamps or conventional nozzles connected to the cylinder via a hose.

It is convenient to treat wood with gas only by surface firing. Deeper exposure to the fire will not be uniform enough, resulting in the article having variable thickness and width. In addition, gas for deep heating will require quite a lot, while coals cost almost nothing.

During surface treatment of wood, they touch the very edge of a 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 according to the degree of darkening.

The firing is followed by wetting, but in this case an ordinary hand sprayer will suffice. It is important that the time interval between fire treatment and water spraying is the same for all areas of each part, so work consistently.

Burnt wood finishing

After the wood has cooled, soot and soot are removed from it. Brass wire brushes are used for this, so as not to peel off the excess. In the course of mechanical processing, texturing 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 as a whole years later, as well as to eliminate soiling. For interior decoration, the lining is covered with linseed or hemp oil in several layers. Wood for the facade and other external works is covered 1-2 times with a colorless nitrocellulose varnish with the addition of synthetic wax: either with a brush along the fibers, or with a spray gun.