arcwick08 Posted July 14, 2014 Report Share Posted July 14, 2014 I was going through back issues of FWW and came across reference to heat-treating lumber to change its color all the way through. It seems like a very cool technique to get some more color variety, specifically out of maple... I've googled and searched but can't find any real reference on how to do this at home. Can it be done? The temps that FWW mentions, about 200C, can be achieved in a home oven, so could you just bake the wood? I'm looking for anybody with first-hand experience on this, before I go and set fire to some blanks in my wife's oven :-/ ac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 15, 2014 Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 I seem to recall that this process is done in an inert atmosphere, or maybe a vacuum, to prevent the wood from igniting or charring. I've seen ash treated this way. It becomes very hard, and is supposed to be quite resistant to insects and rot. The color I saw was nearly charcoal, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted July 15, 2014 Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 Check this out ... Looks beautiful when finished.. Fire treated .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 15, 2014 Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 That singeing technique looks awsome! Wonder what the liquid was? Oil of some sort, maybe? That would only color the surface, but avoids baking the wood to a granite-like hardness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted July 15, 2014 Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 I think they were brushing in tung oil. I asked them if the lumber is dry or not; they said 3-yr old air dried before the treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcwick08 Posted July 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Very cool video!!! Might be a great way to 'pressure treat' a deck or something without the chemically treated stuff. I wonder if it goes all the way through those? A few seconds per L/inch can't be enough to heat the heat the wood all the way through? I wonder if cooking the wood in an oven, submerged in some inert liquid would work? Might be a great way to set the oven/house on fire... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 I think the original post referred to a 'baking' process. It does make the wood weather and insect resistant, but isn't cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcherSeating Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 really neat video of that technique...I'd have to think of a use for that but I'd love to try it. (we have that exact torch). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcherSeating Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 gave it a try but it's pretty tough to lightly "toast" the wood without it being blotchy circular flame marks....it definitely make for an interesting effect, though. Most of the time it just comes out very dark but I got lucky with this attempt. Haven't been able to re-create. This is elm wood from Dodger stadium, (circa 1965 so it's plenty dry, never been used). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enclosed spaces Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 I use this technique quite often on Western Red Cedar to accentuate/raise the grain. It does however darken the wood considerably. Have not tried this on other woods yet, but like the effect it produced on the Elm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.