Japanese way of processing wood with fire. Fire treatment according to Japanese technology: types, advantages and properties. Staged firing of wood. Technology nuances

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

Wood burning technology is used to create a finishing material called "Burned 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 repair.

However, there are methods to protect the tree and make it suitable for construction without the use of antiseptics and flame retardants, they are widely used in Europe, Asia, and America.

What is the firing technology

1. Heat treatment of wood consists in burning coniferous wood with a gas burner.

2. The whole procedure takes up to 10 minutes, then the material is immersed in water.

3. The board is removed from the water, thoroughly washed and cleaned with special metal brushes that allow you to get rid of carbon deposits.

If the firing turned out to be uniform, this allows you to create a charred layer on the surface of the board with a thickness of 1-5 mm. Such 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.

Heat treatment of wood at home, with some skill, really allows the wood to become less susceptible to the effects of fire. As soon as the material dries, it can be used immediately for its intended purpose. However, it can be endowed with even better characteristics if 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.

Unparalleled technology

It's amazing how effective the heat treatment of wood is, especially when you know that in Japan, burnt wood is used on the facades of almost every house. However, this is not the only way to use this technology.

It is noteworthy that the firing of wood allows you to paint the material in a unique silver hue that cannot be given by any paint. Moreover, the depth and saturation of this color directly depend on the skill of the master and, most importantly, the duration of firing. For example, a board can take on a color ranging from gray to jet black. Naturally, the material resulting from this work could not fail to interest many designers and decorators.

Today, if you wish, do-it-yourself firing of wood can be done quite simply, for this you only need exact adherence to technology and skill. If you learn how to do this work, you will soon be able to use a unique material for interior decoration, floors, it makes excellent furniture. At the same time, the processing of wood by firing allows you to make the tree more durable, and all you need is only to periodically apply oil impregnation to it.

Who among us does not dream of an eco-friendly home somewhere on the banks of the river, with the chirping of birds, and fresh air? One thing worries - it does not differ in durability. Sooner or later, traces of decay will make themselves felt. Natural wood has recently become popular as a material for manufacturing and decor items. Most often, industrially manufactured samples are treated with antibacterial, anti-mold, and fire-fighting compounds, which, alas, are not always highly environmentally friendly and safe. Is there an alternative? It turns out that everything was invented for us a long time ago - many centuries ago. The solution against aging and rotting was prompted by nature itself: our ancestors noticed that burnt wood retains its natural qualities longer. How to properly process wood at home, as well as the nuances of using this unusual technology, we will consider in detail in our today's review.

It would seem that it could be easier - to buy varnish, process wood and live in peace. But in the process of use, any chemical compounds - imperceptibly, but, alas, constantly - can release a certain amount of compounds into the environment. Most often this happens under the influence of temperatures, sunlight or. Not all finishing materials lend themselves equally well to chemical treatment. However, wood is an ideal option for using direct firing technology. How it works? During controlled heating, processes begin in the outer layer of wood that stimulate the narrowing of the fibers, and the outer "pores" of the tree are closed with resin and soot. Thanks to this, the top layer of wood becomes invulnerable to the negative effects of the environment, bacteria, and sunlight. Besides, it really looks very nice.

Among the many ways to protect wooden products from negative factors, firing is considered the most convenient method that is easy to use at home.

Advice! Most often, gas burners are used for firing, and firing is carried out with special extinguishing agents: a fire extinguisher and a bucket of sand. However, if you choose the right wood option, no excesses should arise.

In antiquity, no auxiliary tools were used. The necessary wood blanks were simply burned with the help of torches, gradually turning the log over on ropes or leather belts. Sometimes it was called firing, sometimes languor. The most commonly used cedar, beech, maple, ash. After firing, the craftsmen removed carbon deposits, washed the blanks and soaked them with tung oil. In the process of processing, the tree was important not to burn, but to singe. If the technology was followed correctly, then as a result the tree received a unique shade, and its service life increased to 80 years.

Interesting fact! Until now, on the island of Naosami (Japan), burnt wood is used as the main building material. It is processed in a special way, the nuances of which are kept in the strictest confidence. The technique is called Shou Sugi Ban, which means "stewed cedar". Not only houses are built from treated wood, but it is also used to make furniture and decorative elements.

And now we will tell you in more detail about the options for heat treatment of wooden structures. The result (shade, firing depth, characteristics) depends on the type of processing and the type of workpiece. Three types of firing are used for wood processing:

• Option number 1. Surface firing. One of the most commonly used types of processing. It does not require much time, special training and expenses. Firing is usually carried out at home using a gas burner or blowtorch. The maximum firing depth is about 5 mm.

• Option number 2. Full firing. This type of wood processing is not available to everyone. The fact is that for such firing it is necessary to provide a sufficient temperature - approximately 400 ° C. It can only be achieved in special vacuum furnaces. Massively for the processing of building materials it can not be used: the tree loses its volume by almost half. However, this type of wood processing is popular in the piece production of furniture and decorative elements.

• Option number 3. Deep firing. This type of treatment is popular for special aging of wood that has already been used. Typically, this type of firing is used for decoration. The shades here depend on the time of exposure - from graphite to jet black. Sometimes a tree treated in this way can be used to build special and garden paths. In this case, the firing depth can reach 20 mm.

Advantages and disadvantages of technology

Wood processing at home has a number of indisputable advantages:

• no need to use complex chemicals;
• the method, subject to the technology, is quite simple and can be implemented outside a special workshop;
• the material acquires important properties: fire resistance, wear resistance, wood is not affected by microorganisms;
• the process can be carried out without the help of third parties.

Interesting fact! Under the influence of high temperatures in wood, hemicellulose formations are destroyed, which, when burned, form flammable pyrolysis gases. Accordingly, after heat treatment, the tree becomes resistant to fire.

Is it possible to carry out the firing procedure at home

As mentioned above, wood processing at home is possible. However, certain rules and an exact algorithm for performing work should be followed. These steps depend on the type of wood and the firing option. We will gradually deal with all the features and nuances of the preparatory work.

How to choose the type of wood for firing

Initially, back in the old days, cedar was mainly used for firing. Over time, it was noticed that a burnt tree made of beech, as well as hornbeam, has a similar texture and quality. The layers of the wood of these two species have a high density, so only the top layer burns here. But the poplar or maple familiar to us, after processing, get an interesting woody structure of lines elongated along. Conifers are distinguished by a wide variety of patterns. After decorative processing of wood, an unusual, unique structure appears. But the fire-treated birch after firing acquires a low heat capacity and practically does not burn the skin, which will be an additional bonus for decorating shower walls or walls in this style.

Stages of material preparation

If from the outside everything seems very simple at first glance - I cut down a tree, walked with a blowtorch and that's it - then we immediately hasten to upset. First of all, you need to carefully select the material. The tree itself must be prepared for processing: remove the branches, ideally, the blanks should be dry and clean. If the wood is too wet, the moisture can evaporate and warp the surface, creating unnecessary chips and cracks. Another important requirement is that if you are using old wood that has been previously used, then varnish is also necessary: ​​all uncleaned chemicals will simply melt and leave an unnecessary mark, which will directly affect the quality of the finishing material.

Advice! It is best to sand the wood before processing. This will ensure uniform coloring of the finished product after firing and grinding.

Processing wood with a blowtorch

It is important to remember that wood processing should be carried out using the most heated tool. By analogy with a building hair dryer (which can also carry out this procedure), the blowtorch in the truest sense of the word should flare up and warm up the nozzle. For proper firing, the fire must be directed strictly perpendicular to the surface to be treated. The exposure time here depends on the thickness of the workpiece itself and the goals that you are pursuing. The most important thing is to carry out manipulations slowly and evenly, processing the entire surface, paying attention to changes in the structure of the material.

The surface should evenly acquire an even, contrasting pattern. Then the primary grinding of the product is carried out, as well as treatment with varnish or drying oil.

Advice! If you do not heat the blowtorch to the highest possible temperature, then instead of the effect of aged wood, you will get a layer of soot.

For convenience, a wooden board is laid on stools in several rows. Moreover, it is better to lay out the boards in the same order in which they will be installed (if it is a facade) or fastened. Processing is carried out sequentially for each.

Burning wood with a gas burner

Unlike a blowtorch, processing with a gas burner has a number of nuances. It is most often used for surface treatment of wood. This is due to the fact that the flame of a gas burner penetrates more deeply into the wood structure: with an increase in the exposure time, it will not be possible to achieve uniformity.

The most important thing is to strictly control your own movements so as not to overexpose the flame in one area to the detriment of another.

The technology requires mandatory wetting of wood after firing. Moreover, the period of time between firing and spraying from the spray gun should be the same. After cooling, the top layer is cleaned, soot is removed either with a stiff brush or with a special brass wire.

Does burnt wood need additional protection?

Burnt wood itself has a number of undeniable advantages, but it also needs protection. Most often, after the first stage of cleaning, the product is treated with oil. Usually a protective varnish is applied afterwards. And if the coating will be used to decorate the facade, use synthetic wax dissolved in turpentine. This will allow the wax to acquire additional bonding and protective properties.

Where is treated wood used?

Burnt wood has recently been very much appreciated by designers. You can buy interesting interior gizmos made of burnt wood in art workshops or studios of modern designers.

The effect of using burnt wood in the interior

Wood is widely used to create furniture. It does not matter whether it is a flat board or untreated wood: in any case, you will receive a unique piece of furniture created with love, as well as wines and household utensils.

Sometimes even entire zones are trimmed with such panels. For example, a kitchen or a bedroom.

The nuances of using burnt wood in the design of facades

Burnt wood is used quite often. It gives the building a unique chic. If you think that this is aging the room, you are mistaken! Facade design can be very avant-garde.

The possibilities of using burnt boards are wide. Processed wood shows very good "driving performance", it is widely used both for facade decoration of buildings and for interior design. The process itself, as we found out, is not so complicated, and the result is really impressive.

If you have questions or want to express your opinion on the topic of the article, leave your comments in the box below.

Yakisugi - Japanese woodworking technology"cedar languishing" is a Japanese technology for treating the surface of wood with the help of 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, so it is used for cladding the facades of houses and building fences.
The story began in the 18th century with the mass burning for fire protection of areas of the Japanese cypress "Sugi", densely covering Japanese villages. After some time, the inhabitants realize 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 firing was used by almost all nationalities, since in ancient times, along with tarnishing (wood impregnation with hot resin), firing was the most common way to protect wood from decay. The fact is that under the influence of high temperature during the pyrolysis process in the outer layer of wood, the fiber channels narrow, clog them with resins and combustion products, which significantly strengthens the top layer of wood and increases its service life. In the old days, an ordinary fire was used to burn wood. Logs, floor and roof boards were often burned. In Russia, this process was called "smoking".
The advantages of such wood after fire treatment:

Fire protected
- Does not rot;
- Protected from insects and fungi;
- Easy to manufacture;
- Over time, does not change the appearance and color;
- Service life - up to 80 years.

Now, for burning wood, a gas burner is most often used. To achieve the desired effect, the resin boards are folded into a triangular shape to form a box, and then fired for 7-10 minutes. The duration of thermal exposure 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 of the structure and color. Then we extinguish the burning surface, clean it with iron brushes from the remnants of ashes and rinse with running water. Ready! Now this wood can be used for facade cladding, track or fence