Traditional Wood Preservation Technique

Traditional Wood Preservation Technique. Here are several Wood preservation techniques that are often used by the traditional community in Indonesia

  1. Soaking the Wood in the River
    Soaking logs and logs in rivers is an easy way to preserve and improve wood quality. The purpose of this immersion is so that the wood absorbs water so as to trigger the release of water-soluble extractive substances, such as nitrogen, glucosides, tannins and wood dyes. Meanwhile, water-insoluble extractive substances such as starch remain in the pores of the wood.

The soluble extractive substances affect the condition of the water around the wood. Microbes such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus masentriricus, Lactobacillus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. will develop and decompose wood extractive substances that are not dissolved so that it will gradually dissolve. This process is known as chain fermentation.

This chain fermentation process produces organic acids, gases and alcohol and reduces the moisture content in the wood. In addition, the content of wood starch which is a source of destructive food such as termites will also decrease because it dissolves into water. The result is increased wood resistance due to reduced interest by destructive insects to eat wood.

  1. Soaking the Wood in the Pool
    Soaking wood in the pool with the addition of natural ingredients can also preserve wood. Banana stems, tobacco leaves, rice straw, and clove flowers are natural ingredients that are usually used. The soaking process generally takes 2 to 3 months to achieve maximum results.

also read: Cedar Tree – Origin, Benefits and Magical Side
Before soaking the wood, it must be washed for 7 consecutive days. The water used for washing is a mixture of 1 liter of water with 10 grams of tobacco, 10 grams of cloves, and 10 grams of banana stems. The mixed water is rubbed over the entire surface of the wood and then dried using a cloth.

After washing for 7 days, the wood is then soaked into the pond and added with natural ingredients. After the soaking process for 2 to 3 months is complete, the wood must be dried first to dry it under the shade.

  1. Mixture of Oil and Diesel
    Used oil can also be used to preserve wood and extend its life. The trick is to make a liquid from a mixture of oil and diesel in a ratio of 1:1.

Apply the liquid on the wood surface evenly using a brush. Then leave it for a few days for the liquid to absorb and dry naturally.

In order to get maximum results, before the wood is used for building construction, it can be smeared again with liquid oil and diesel in a ratio of 1:2. If the wood will be shaved, then the basting is done after the wood is shaved.

  1. Wood Smoking Technique

The smoking method has not been widely used by the community to preserve wood. Fumigation of wood is done for 3 days so that the quality of the wood increases. The type of wood that is usually smoked is sengon wood and pulai uses mangiun wood as fuel.

  1. Painting the Wood

Coating wood with paint is the easiest way to make wood last longer. The paint used can be wood paint, oil paint and varnish. However, the durability results using wood painting methods are not as durable as other techniques.

  1. Preserving Wood With Vacuum

Usually the method of preserving wood with a vacuum system is carried out by large-scale wood companies. The advantages of this method are very high penetration and retention of preservatives, fast working process and can be applied to wet or dry wood. However, this method also has drawbacks, namely high costs and a high level of work accuracy. Traditional Wood Preservation Technique

Types of Suitable Wood for making Furniture.

Types of Suitable Wood for making Furniture. Given the importance of the function of wood in a building, especially for the manufacture of furniture. Some types of wood that have the best quality that can be used as furniture or furniture are:

Teakwood
Of course, many are familiar with this one wood. Teak wood (Teak: English) also has a good scientific name, namely Tectona Grandis. Teak wood is slightly yellowish brown in color and is commonly found on the islands of Java and Sulawesi. Although there are in Sumatra and Kalimantan, teak wood cannot grow optimally because the soil content on the two islands has a high acidity level.

In the furniture industry, teak is the prima donna. It can be said to be one of the premium types of wood. Teak wood takes decades to be used as furniture or furniture. This age factor is one of the factors that affect the price of teak wood to be expensive. In addition, because of the supply and demand factor, many are looking for it, but the stock is limited.

Teak wood is more durable than other woods because it contains large amounts of natural oils. Even so, this is also a weakness of teak. Because it has a lot of natural oil content, teak is not suitable for using bright solid colors such as white, red, green, etc. Because over time it will release natural oils that will cause stains to become yellowish on your furniture. For dark solid colors such as black or brown, stains from natural oils can still be tolerated, but if you pay close attention to them, they still interfere with beauty.

Teak wood is suitable for most types of furniture products, but what needs to be considered is the type of finishing. We recommend using natural color finishing, in addition to avoiding the impression of stains, natural colors will bring out beautiful natural fiber strokes. This is precisely what furniture lovers are looking for. The emergence of fiber can be an added value or satisfaction for them.

In addition, teak is a type of hardwood. This is an advantage of teak because it is not easily damaged if hit by an impact.

Mahogany Wood
Mahogany is one of the main raw materials in the manufacture of Jepara furniture besides teak. If teak is more idolized in the local market, then this mahogany wood has become an idol abroad, especially in European countries. So many Jepara furniture craftsmen use this mahogany wood, especially for export products.

Mahogany wood has a finer grain than teak. It has small pores so that the resulting furniture products are also very smooth. The color of mahogany is slightly reddish on the inside, and dark brown on the outside.

Although with the same diameter, when compared to teak, the price of mahogany wood can be cheaper, but in practice this is not the case. This is because:

a.) The wood that can be used must be above 30cm. Mahogany wood below 30cm has a less stable structure when used for furniture, unlike teak. In addition, the wood will shrink easily and be more susceptible to pests. Due to the use of large diameter wood, it certainly affects production costs.

b.) The type of mahogany is not as hard as teak. This causes mahogany wood to be more susceptible to pests. Usually before processing, mahogany wood will be soaked in anti-pest liquid first. There are also those who boil it to really avoid pests. This process will also affect the final price of mahogany products.

If you want a solid color finish, we recommend using mahogany. This is because the natural oil content in mahogany is not as much as in teak, so the appearance will be more durable in the long run.

Trembesi Wood
This wood is commonly used as a road shading. Able to live in nature that lacks water or heat. Has a relatively faster growth than other trees. Therefore, it is often found that the size of this wood is large, unlike teak. Usually used for furniture products whose construction supports the strength of the product itself, such as the solid table below.

Trembesi wood has good fiber strokes like teak. The fibers are prominent and regular. The elegant impression created is strong because of the fiber. When still a tree, this wood is resistant to extreme weather. But after becoming wood, it is not strong if placed outside the room. It is more suitable for indoor products that do not have construction joints, thick solid designs or for large statues.

Sungkai Wood
Sungkai wood is a type of wood that is also often used for making furniture. Usually, the use of sungkai wood for the manufacture of building materials such as windows, doors, to the construction of roof frames. Sungkai wood was also chosen to be used as veneer. Veneer is wood that is peeled into wood sheets, serves to help the finishing process to be more even and nice.

In general, the color of sungkai wood is light. The sapwood (wooden edge) is lighter in color. Has a surface that seems rough, can not be as smooth as teak or mahogany. Even though it has been sanded, the rough impression is still felt.

The wood fiber itself is good, has a strong wood character, so it is suitable for furniture using natural colors. If you want to use solid colors, in our opinion, just use mahogany wood. For the price itself is cheaper when compared to teak or mahogany.

However, we do not recommend the use of outdoor furniture such as garden swings, garden chairs, sungkai wood because the character of sungkai wood is less strong when exposed to sunlight and rain.

This type of wood is also less strong against pests because it is a type of soft wood. So the handling must also be right from the start to avoid pest attacks. Types of Suitable Wood for making Furniture.

Tips for Caring for Solid Wood Table Furniture

Tips for Caring for Solid Wood Table Furniture

Tips for Caring for Solid Wood Table Furniture. Wood is one of the materials that is often used as the main material for making furniture such as tables, chairs, cupboards, doors, and so on. This is because wood has a warm color and has a natural impression. Please note that this wood has many types, one of which is solid wood. This solid wood is natural wood that is processed directly from a type of wood tree. This type of solid has indeed become a material that is quite popular with the public.

In addition to having many types, this wood also has a measure to determine the level of wood quality. The smaller the number of the type of wood, the better the quality possessed by that type. This solid wood is in the order of durability class I, this first level of durability has a longer durability than the type of wood that has durability level II.

There are several kinds of wood that are classified as solid types such as Mahogany wood, Teak wood, Sungkai wood, Sonokeling wood, Pine wood, Mango wood, Ulin wood, Mindi wood, and Trembesi wood. Even though it is guaranteed to be durable, of course the wood that has been processed into furniture must always be cared for and maintained to keep it looking good. Below we will present some tips that you can use to treat solid wood tables at home.

Avoid Sharp Objects, Heat and Liquids
Avoiding the table from sharp objects is sometimes a difficult thing to do. You can put the knife on the table. Avoiding this means being careful when placing knives on furniture.
Sharp objects, heat, and colored liquids are indeed best for you to keep and avoid from solid furniture, because these can affect the beauty of the furniture in terms of color. Furniture items that are often scratched, exposed to heat, and exposed to liquid are visually not attractive anymore. Because scratches, heat and liquids can damage the wood finish and the texture of the solid wood table.

Try not to be exposed to direct light
Exposure to direct sunlight contains high temperatures. When wood is exposed to temperatures that are too high, it can cause damage to the furniture. This is because the humidity of a wood that is too can create cracks in the furniture. This furniture requires a place that is not too humid and not too dry so that durability can be maintained. Because if it is too humid it can cause the growth of fungi and insects that can damage the solid wood table.

Clean regularly

Regular cleaning is intended so that the furniture you have can be protected from dust and dirt that sticks all day long. Imagine how thick it would be if it wasn’t cleaned at all. You can wipe it with a dry cloth or use a duster. For a cleaner result, you can use a slightly damp cloth to wipe it.After that make sure you dry it by wiping it again with a dry cloth. Surely your furniture will shine like new. Do this cleaning activity regularly for maintenance.

Buying something with durable frills doesn’t mean you can use it at will without any effort to take care of it. Even if it is basically durable, when it is not cared for, it can reduce the durability due to lack of maintenance. Therefore, so that your solid wood table can still look good, you must pay attention to the above points for simple maintenance.

Tips for Caring for Solid Wood Table Furniture

Distinguishing Teak Wood With Trembesi Wood

Distinguishing Teak Wood With Trembesi Wood
Teak Wood Table

Distinguishing Teak Wood With Trembesi Wood. As previously said, trembesi wood has characteristics similar to teak, so many people mistake it for teak wood. Though the quality provided is very different. Don’t be fooled by naughty craftsmen who sell trembesi wood at very expensive teak prices.

To be able to distinguish between the two, you can pay attention to the following things:

Wood Color

The most easily observed differentiator is color, what about the color of trembesi wood and what about the color of teak wood. The color of the trembesi wood at first glance is similar to old teak wood. The color is dark dark brown. But when compared directly parallel you will definitely see the difference.

Old teak wood does have a dark brown wood color but there will be a visible golden effect. This golden effect is only owned by teak wood and not owned by trembesi wood. You can set it apart during the day and be exposed to direct sunlight or direct the light at its surface.

Make sure when comparing these two types of wood, it has not been coated with finishing materials.

Wood Grain

The two woods have a very similar grain appearance. The existence of a year circle on each wood will add to the uniqueness and attractive appearance of each piece of furniture. If you want to tell the difference, pay attention to the grain grooves of these two types of wood.

Trembesi wood has thicker wood Grains in size. The circle of the year looks very clear and sharp. The Grain grooves are straighter than teak wood. On the other hand, teak wood also has clear wood Grains, but the thickness of the Grain is thinner than trembesi wood and the grooves are more wavy.

Trembesi Wooden Table

Distinguishing Teak Wood With Trembesi Wood

Smart Ways to Choose Quality Teak Wood

Smart Ways to Choose Quality Teak Wood. Teak wood is known as one of the best woods in the country. Teak wood is used for making boats, furniture, and other things which require resistance to the elements. Teak is used for outdoor furniture but is not recommended for full exposure to sunlight. Being more expensive than most other woods, teak furniture has become something of a status symbol. Not only is it common for a teak bench, chair, or table to last 70 years with the correct care plan, it is also common to pass down such furniture to future generations as an heirloom. Many teak wood sold in the market does not pay attention to its quality. As a result, there are many teaks of inferior quality.

In order not to be wrong in choosing wood, let’s follow the guidelines for choosing a good teak:

  1. Of course the age of the wood must be really old, because old wood has very good strength and durability.
  2. Make sure the wood pores look solid. Dense pores make wood more durable and durable against pests such as termites.
  3. Good quality teak, one of which is marked by a darker color (reddish brown) and evenly distributed throughout the wood.
  4. There is no dead eye on the wood, because the dead eye indicates the wood has a high potential for cracking / cracking.
  5. No cork tissue/wooden heart. Generally, the appearance of the heart on wood is shaped like a long line and if it is released it will cause scars that can damage the beauty of teak wood.
  6. No holes. Hollow wood identifies the attack of the sawdust beetle. In addition, the wood holes make the resulting product look less attractive.

Those are 6 Smart Ways to Choose Quality Teak Wood you could pay attention.