Staining oak at home. Making a knife handle with your own hands

In the modern world, it is important to use not only aesthetic materials, but also natural ones. Bog oak is just such a product. Combining aesthetics and naturalness, it has become widely popular. Of course, this raw material is expensive, but for those who cannot afford this material, but really want it, there are options. There are a number of different stylizations for this shade.

In many European countries, the discovery of such wood in nature is an event. And in Russia to this day large reserves of valuable wood have been preserved.

Advantages of bog wood

Today, many have heard about such a material as stained oak wood, but there are many other species, the main feature of which is that they have properties that are radically different from standard options.

Let's take a closer look at what this option is.

First, let's figure out why this group of materials is so valuable, and there are many reasons for its popularity:

Another option is stained birch, which is mined from the bottom of reservoirs and used to create various products.

Scope of application of the material

Even if you have never heard of such a material, you can imagine that this type of wood is used in not one, but at least five applications.

Due to the fact that bog oak is a rather rare and even more valuable material, it requires fine manual processing.

Most often, furniture and souvenirs are made from wood, which are doomed to turn into antique objects. It is worth noting that flooring or other types of coatings used in interior design have a long service life.

What tools are used to apply stain?

Staining wood at home can be done with a brush, a foam or fabric swab, a paint roller, or a spray gun. The choice of technology is determined primarily by the type of finishing composition.

Optimal ratio of materials and tools used:

• alcohol and nitro stains – spray gun;
• water stains - swabs, roller, brushes with synthetic bristles;
• oil and acrylic stains - wide brushes with natural bristles, lint-free swabs.

Story

The earliest official information about the extraction of bog oak in Russia dates back to the 70s. XIX century. The researcher of that time, Stal, reported, describing the Sura River, that it had long been “clogged” with oak trunks.

Later, in 1882, information about bog oak was published in an article published in the magazine “Russian Forestry” No. 12 by forester Chernitsky, where the author of the article points to accumulations of bog oak in the former Kostroma province.

Guide to Russian Crafts, CC BY-SA 3.0

Gradually, information about the extraction and transportation of valuable material is increasingly appearing in various printed publications.

But printed evidence does not mean that oak mining was not carried out earlier. For a long time, bog oak has been mined in an artisanal way: prospectors found the trunks in the water and pulled them to the surface almost by hand.

Later, an industrial method for extracting this elite material was developed; it was used by the Moscow-Kazan Railway joint-stock company.

How to stain wood: methods of applying finishing composition

There are two generally accepted methods for treating wood with stain:

1. Applying the composition in excess and then removing the excess with a swab.

The technique is relevant primarily for aqueous compositions. It allows you to even out color transitions, eliminate smudges and achieve lighter tones. The stain is applied in a circular (tampon) or longitudinal (roller, brush) motion, followed by wiping along the fibers. After the first layer has dried, the second is applied. The procedure is repeated until the desired color saturation is achieved.

1. Applying the composition in excess without subsequently wiping off the excess.

This technique is more appropriate when using wax, oil and acrylic stains when the task is to achieve deep shades of wood. Partial wiping of excess is allowed after the main part of the composition is absorbed into the structure of the wood. This allows you to even out the tone and get rid of minor defects that may occur when applying the composition.

• to enhance adhesion, the stain can be slightly heated, this will improve the speed and depth of penetration of the composition into the wood structure;
• It is not recommended to heavily soak a brush, swab or roller in the finishing composition. Controlled removal of stain minimizes the risk of smudges and blots.
• The ends of the board are treated with stain more intensively than the main surface, because they absorb the composition more actively.

What does it look like?

The dark shade can be repeated artificially. However, it is impossible to duplicate the unique texture of natural bog oak.

Wood is unique due to its various inclusions, veins, and irregularities. Among the general black, gray, yellow, silver and brown shades are visible.

Thus, natural wood has many tones and halftones, although from a distance it may look black.

Lamination is observed on the surface . Gloss deepens the color and texture, especially when the sun hits the surface. At the same time, a matte finish can add more gray.

A unique appearance is created by nature, sometimes over many thousands of years . Black wood with silver veins looks strict and elegant. The depth of shades and tones allows wood to be used to solve various problems. Such exquisite material has a high cost, which is completely justified.

Bog oak is easily tinted and varnished . The property is due precisely to a long stay under water. Initially black has a purple tint. However, if desired, you can create other variations using this same property.

Oil stains and their features

The finishing composition consists of dyes dissolved in oil, usually linseed. The stain is easily and evenly applied to the wood, both manually and with a spray gun. It does not form surface films, emphasizes the wood texture and provides air exchange.

A distinctive feature of the coloring pigments of such compositions is their resistance to UV radiation, due to which the painted surfaces do not fade in the sun, maintaining color saturation for years. White spirit is used to dilute oil formulations.

How long such a stain dries depends on the degree of its concentration and a number of other factors. On average, this takes from 2 to 4 hours.

Stained wood in the interior

To create a unique style they often use:

• larch;
• birch;
• oak.

The only requirements for the material used in interior decoration are environmental friendliness and aesthetics, and products made from bog oak fully satisfy these requirements. Often in mansions you can find parquet made of bog oak, which looks unsurpassed.

Wooden buildings of this type are not afraid of any fungi or insects. Therefore, such a coating does not require additional treatment with protective agents, and this is another plus for the environmental friendliness of the house.

The price of wood starts from 12,500 rubles per 1m3. It doesn’t matter how much bog oak costs, the main thing is that the material is of high quality.

Painting wooden products with stain and varnish

To enhance the wear resistance and attractiveness of the surface of wooden products painted with stain, they are additionally opened with varnish. At this stage, many are faced with a problem when, when applying varnish, the stain begins to smear, which ultimately irreparably spoils all the work done.

At the finishing stage it is important to remember:

• water-based stains must be combined with NON-aqueous varnishes;
• alcohol stains – with non-alcohol paints and varnishes.

Wood, under the influence of negative factors, loses its natural attractiveness over time.

and deteriorate performance characteristics: they fade under the influence of UV; deformed from excess moisture; rot when pathogenic microflora multiply.

To give a rich shade, preserve the structure, protect against destruction and extend service life

, a special wood stain is used. Read more about what types of compositions there are, how to prepare them and what are the features of processing wooden surfaces.

How did the color come about?

Bog oak is formed as a result of prolonged exposure to liquid with a high content of mineral salts. After this, the wood receives new properties and color.

The process itself is called mineralization, which occurs under natural conditions. A tree can lie in a swamp for centuries.

Bog oak is mined in areas where oak thickets were located thousands of years ago . Usually these are swamps. Trunks and branches are perfectly preserved under water and acquire new properties. Chemical components react naturally with wood and make the color darker and more saturated. Interestingly, after several centuries under water, the top layer of the tree looks as if it had been on fire.

There is artificial staining technology . To give the desired color, inorganic salts and compounds are used. Steaming and heat treatment are also included. The main advantage of artificial bog oak is its availability.

For extraction, it is not necessary to remove the trunks from the water, dry them and process them. Artificial bog oak can be produced in unlimited quantities. This is what makes the cost lower. Technical characteristics do not differ much from natural material.

However, it is worth considering that chemical compounds are used in the manufacturing process. It is no longer possible to call such a tree natural and completely safe. You should clearly understand what artificial staining method the manufacturer uses. It is worth giving preference to the most safe and non-toxic options.

Also, artificial staining is inferior in terms of decorativeness. This process involves a limited palette of colors and duplicate patterns. This is bad material for creating something prestigious and unique. Natural stained oak has a unique appearance.

Staining wood: subtleties of work

Finishing any wooden structures is a responsible process and requires careful work. Any wooden product requires staining. Staining is coloring. So, let's talk about how to stain wood yourself to get excellent results.

Tree type

Before you start working directly, you must understand what kind of wood needs to be stained. Experts divide wood into soft and hard. So, soft types include trees such as fir, spruce or pine, and hard types include walnut, oak, ash, and so on. If you don't know what kind of wood you have in front of you, use the following advice. Inspect the product. The grainy structure, uneven surface, and spotted patterns indicate that this is soft wood. But the uniformity of the pattern and structure, the absence of pronounced spots indicate that this is a hard type of wood. It should be noted that very hard woods, for example, oak, need to be stained in several layers. But the result will justify the time and money spent on the work.

Peculiarities

You should remember the characteristics of wood types before staining. Soft wood will not stain evenly if you simply apply stain. The secret is to apply the primer before you stain. It is this trick that will make the wood stain even. If you want to emphasize the natural grain of the wood, you don’t have to use a primer. By the way, the primer should be mixed with a special composition, which is necessary for a good result on wood. Solid wood is less capricious, and therefore can be stained without prior preparation. Staining will make the product more elegant and attractive.

Preparation

Before you start staining, you need to prepare the product. First of all, clean the wood. It should be free of dust, grease, dirt and the like. Only clean wood will be painted correctly and accurately.

The next step is to use your imagination. You need to choose sandpaper that will be useful in the process. If you want to end up with dark wood, use coarse sandpaper - it will give a rough sanding, which means more stain will be absorbed into the wood. Accordingly, if your goal is a light result, stock up on fine-grained sandpaper - with its help you can achieve significantly less stain absorption and a lighter result. By the way, professionals give advice: if you plan to stain a flat surface, but with some abrasions or other flaws, first sand it with coarse-grain sandpaper, and then use fine-grained paper. In this way, you can smooth the surface of the product without compromising the color that you would like to see in the end. It would be a good idea to experiment on a scrap piece of wood before starting the main work.

Immediately after sanding, take a slightly damp cloth and clean the wooden product from dust.

Staining process

After all the long preparation, you can proceed directly to staining. It is recommended to wear rubber gloves before starting work.

Mix the stain well and thoroughly - this way you can be sure of an excellent result. Take a sponge, brush or even a rag and apply the stain to the wood. Don’t skimp, you need to make a generous layer. By the way, if you choose a quick-drying stain, it is best to apply it with a sprayer. In order to apply the stain accurately and evenly, follow the natural grain of the wood as you work. Carefully inspect and check the product to see if there are any missing areas, and constantly monitor the process.

Now we need to wait. It takes approximately 10-13 minutes for the stain to absorb. It must be borne in mind that the longer the wait, the darker the future result. After the stain has dried, if the result is satisfactory, leave the product for 7-8 hours to dry completely. By the way, you can fix the result using polyurethane varnish.

Turnkey house made of laminated veneer lumber, popular projects of houses made of laminated veneer lumber from 200 to 300 m2.

What should you know?

First, we will talk about all the intricacies and stages of extraction/processing of the material, and then we will look at the purposes for which it is used. But let us note right away that all the advantages described above are inherent only in the case when the material was mined and processed according to technology and without deviations.

How the material is extracted

First, figure out exactly how the material gets its unique properties, and this can happen in two cases - either trees growing along the banks of swamps and rivers fall, or individual elements fall out and go to the bottom when logs are floated down rivers. They are usually at the bottom from several tens to hundreds of years old, and there are also oak logs that are over 1000 years old. Everything is simple here - the older the material, the better and more expensive it is.

Material whose age has exceeded 1,000 years is a truly unique phenomenon, and stained oak wood is the rarest wood on earth. As for the extraction of raw materials, it is unlikely that you will be able to cope with this on your own, and the reason for this is the technology that is quite difficult to use.

Technology:

• It should be noted that the largest deposits of wood were found on the territory of Russia, but industrial production is still not properly organized and only a few companies are engaged in such work. This is due to the fact that the process is expensive, labor-intensive, and to extract 100 m3 of really high-quality material, you will need to lift at least 1,000 m3 of wood from the bottom.

• 
  From the moment of extraction to the sale of the finished material, the production process takes more than one year, and this requires large investments of capital, and everything will begin to pay off in at least 3 years. For this reason, even large companies cannot afford to start mastering such work.

• First, you should conduct a reconnaissance at the bottom to determine where the wood is located. With the help of special echolocation tools, the process is simplified, but it still takes a lot of time, since it is necessary to explore from 300 to 400 kilometers of the riverbed.
• Afterwards, professional divers work to examine the bottom of the reservoir and establish the exact location and number of logs, which allows them to draw up a rough mining plan. The services of workers of this class are not cheap, and this also raises the cost of the material.
• After this, the lifting of wood from the bottom of the rivers begins, and this will require productive equipment, since in rare cases elements of incredible sizes may be encountered. It is impossible to lift some trunks with a crane, especially considering that the density of the material is 1,500 kg/m3. Can you imagine what its physical mass is? Therefore, it is necessary to select equipment in accordance with intelligence data.
• It is also important to understand that work on raising logs to the surface must be carried out very carefully so that there is no damage to the elements, and at the same time, due to pressure changes, a caisson effect can occur, in which the material begins to literally crack before our eyes. For this reason, logs are often lifted and left on the surface of the water to allow the material to stabilize.

Extraction is a complex and extremely responsible process that requires accuracy.

• Afterwards, the elements should be delivered for sawing as quickly as possible, since when exposed to air, even for several hours, the quality of the material decreases sharply. For the same reason, during transportation, you can moisten the wood or transport it in containers with water.
• As for cutting stained wood, it is carried out using special equipment in which the working elements are tipped with carbide to ensure effective cutting of very hard material. Once the wood has dried, it will be more difficult to cut, so it is extremely important to carry out this work on time.
• Finished boards should be stacked in a room where there is no direct sunlight and normal ventilation, and everything should be done while the wood is damp in order to lay it on a flat surface and prevent the wood from deforming.

In order for the material to acquire normal humidity, it should lie in a well-ventilated area for 2 to 4 years. Once the drying has passed, the elements will need to be carefully sorted (this is done by master cabinetmakers), and the wood can be used for any purpose. As you can see, the technology is difficult to implement.

Application area

The finished material is extremely popular and is used in the following areas:

1. In the manufacture of high quality wooden furniture, which can decorate any interior, and at the same time its service life is more than 100 years. If you look at it, in rooms with a microclimate that is stable, they can last for an unlimited period of time. Due to the high complexity of processing, projects can only be completed by highly qualified specialists who have all the necessary equipment. Furniture pieces decorated with hand carvings are true works of art.
2. Also, incredibly beautiful stairs, finishing coatings and floor elements are made from this raw material. Of course, the cost of such products is high, but true connoisseurs do not take the cost into account, although it will cost a fortune to buy stained wood. This kind of decoration is rarely seen in houses and apartments, and most often it is only found in royal palaces. Such designs can decorate even the most luxurious interior.
3. The material is also used to make souvenirs and small items - from knife handles to boxes, figurines and more. The variety is so great that there is no point in listing everything. Here’s an interesting fact: you can order products according to your drawings or design, and receive a unique, one-of-a-kind product.

Please note that production from stained wood is practically waste-free, since high-quality charcoal is made from scraps, and its yield per cubic meter is much higher than when using ordinary wood. This is a good way to use substandard conditions and make a profit from it.

Although some manufacturing companies claim that they have been able to master the technology of artificial staining, the end result is a completely different material that resembles the real one only in appearance.

Safety precautions when staining with ammonia

Ammonia hydroxide is used in the household and sold without a prescription, but when using it you need to follow a few simple rules:

• Wear rubber gloves, safety glasses and a respirator. Do not expect that you will have time to quickly move away from the dishes in which the staining will take place without inhaling the fumes.
• Work only in a room with good ventilation or fully open windows; if it is possible to carry out the staining process outside, use it. You need to think through the weathering system before starting treatment, since the room will be filled with vapor in a few seconds.
• Use glass or plastic containers; ammonia can dissolve metal, especially aluminum.
• After finishing the staining process, the composition must be disposed of. The best way is to pour the used ammonia into a bucket of water and pour the resulting solution into a compost heap or onto beds under the roots of plants. You will receive free fertilizer.

Where is it used?

Stained wood has high aesthetics and durability. A door or fence made of this material not only looks luxurious, but is also not inferior to metal in many properties. Bog oak is called ironwood for a reason. After a long stay in water, its technical properties are indeed similar to this material.

Products made from stained wood are expensive and are often a very profitable investment . The material is used to make unique chess sets, jewelry, icons and furniture. Collectible items are made from selected quality bog oak. They are even passed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms.

Windows and doors in the interior made of this material last for many years. This solution looks presentable and reliable. Moreover, it is extremely difficult to damage such an entrance door, so it also acts as reliable protection for the owner.

Groups for the bedroom or living room are often made from stained wood. In the first case, everything is done for the comfort of the owner; they usually combine a bed and a wardrobe or chest of drawers. Tables, chairs, upholstered furniture frames, bookcases and shelves are often made for the living room.

Craftsmen make a lot of interesting furniture from stained wood by hand, however, their cost is very high. Quite often the material is used to cover the floor. To reduce the cost, artificial stained oak is used. The unique properties allow you to create flooring even in the bathroom.

Recently, houses with stained wood facades have become very popular . This structure looks very original, especially in the sun. Light is able to maximize the complexity and depth of texture thanks to the glossy surface.

By watching the following video, you will learn how to make bog oak yourself.

Source

Features of processing valuable rocks

Bog oak is mined on the banks of rivers. Wood can lie in water for more than a hundred years, and then it is taken out and processed. Products made from stained material have a pleasant dark color and are durable. In terms of density, moraine material is compared to iron, so even sawing it is difficult. The humidity of the freshly mined product can reach 117%. Compared to natural humidity of 50–65%, this figure is impressive.

The material is extracted in three ways:

1. For bottom-depth work, it is the most costly and painstaking.
2. When developing peat bogs, it is less labor-intensive.
3. Manufacturing in specialized workshops is the simplest, but multi-stage method.

The weight of wet oak wood is 1500 kg/1 cubic meter. Therefore, immediately after extraction from the water, the material is cleared of silt and sand and cut into small pieces. Otherwise, transportation becomes more difficult.

The tree is afraid of sharp contacts with hot air and direct sunlight, so drying is carried out in a gentle mode.
A proven old-fashioned way of drying bog oak is to place small blocks of wood in the grain in the fall and leave until spring.
Natural drying is also allowed, but it must be carried out in a room with good ventilation and constant humidity and temperature. It became possible to dry the material in a short time only in the last 10 years, with the advent of new technical means. The following methods are used to dry bog oak in a short time:

1. Vacuum chamber.
2. Pulse.
3. Adsorption.
4. Infrared.

But when dried in chambers, moraine material discolors and becomes less dark. Therefore, many criticize unnatural drying methods. But as it dries naturally, the areas exposed to the sun also become lighter. Chamber drying of bog oak saves time, and if it is carried out in compliance with the technology, then cracks will not appear and the product will not be subject to internal stress.

When chamber drying to different humidity levels, minor changes in geometric shapes are allowed. But if you pre-treat the product with a chemical composition, the changes will decrease. Details are shown in the table below:

An antiseptic penetrating solution is used as a chemical treatment. The product is soaked in it for 2–3 hours. Drying is also affected by the temperature in the chamber and air humidity. The maximum permissible temperature is 50 degrees - maximum shrinkage. Smaller changes are permissible at a temperature of 25 degrees.

Why is stained wood popular?

Back in the days when man had just begun to explore the Earth, wood took a reliable ally position as the first available material. No matter how the conditions and the development of scientific and technological progress develop, natural wood has always been in demand, and this trend will remain leading for many centuries to come. Eco-friendly wood is not only safe, but also gives the room a special charm and comfort.

Considering that ordinary wood has become not so interesting in recent years compared to other progressive materials, it’s time to collect laurels for stained wood. In terms of strength characteristics, the material resembles stone due to the properties obtained during the period of being under water.

The color of bog oak is not the main advantage that makes the material preferable in choice. Rested wood is not afraid of cold, moisture, or pests that destroy hectares of forest. Stained material does not require specific care or additional processing. At the same time, it remains the standard of naturalness, environmental friendliness, and purity.

Color spectrum

In accordance with the international classification, each color is assigned its own code and name

.

For example, “pine”, “walnut” or “fruit wood” stain.

To select a wood stain in a suitable color range, you need to carry out a test painting

wood and take into account:

• natural shade and type of wood subject to processing. Painting with stain can lead to the appearance of new shades;
• the color range stated in the catalogue. Colors under the same code from different manufacturers can produce shades of different depth and saturation on different types of wood. The same composition on pine will look lighter than on red wood. This can be explained by the fact that such wood has a more saturated natural shade;
• quality of stains. Compositions in the same color from different manufacturers can give different coloring effects. Therefore, you should not choose products of dubious quality;
• density of stains. The lower the density, the more the composition is absorbed into the wood. This results in a less saturated and deep shade.

The following colors of water-based wood stains are considered the most popular:

• “oak” – rich brown shade;
• “mahogany” – a noble burgundy shade;
• “pine” – the shade is close to the natural color of the wood;
• “natural” – natural light yellow shade;
• “light walnut” – practically does not change the natural color of the wood, and is used as a protective composition;
• “cherry” – light red and rich burgundy shade;
• “mahogany” – brown with light shades of red;
• “Wenge” – dark shades of brown;
• “larch” – from dark yellow to orange hue.

Combination of shades

Natural stained wood cannot be combined with black. An excess of this color is depressing and makes the overall picture too cloudy. This is how stained oak loses its charm. When combining shades, it is better to rely on contrast.

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• Black and white . With this combination, you can maximize the advantages and diversity of bog oak. Psychologists believe that this combination is especially attractive to temperamental people. In the interior, the combination of stained oak with white color gives the room a special aristocracy. Designers love to use this technique.

• Black with wenge. The combination of contrasting wood often attracts people with complex personalities, as well as designers who want to create something unique. You can use a checkerboard arrangement or simply change the color of the facades and frames. Situations where stained wood and wenge are used in equal proportions should be avoided. For harmony, it is still worth giving preference to some shade and making it predominant.

• Black with white and red. This contrast is classic. A good solution for minimalism. It is worth noting that other bright accents can be used with stained oak. It’s just that red has already proven itself. In this case, the white color should act as a kind of background; there should be more of it.

In fact, there are a lot of shade combinations . To make the best decision, you should consult with the designer. If you want stained wood to predominate, then you can use artificial material. Otherwise, the interior will be very expensive.

Bog oak parquet with light walls is considered a classic. The surface does not require special care if installed correctly. Moreover, such a floor is not only strong and wear-resistant, but also very durable. You can also lay just stained boards. However, it is parquet that allows you to play with the overall impression, creating drawings.

You cannot place furniture made of this material and lay the floor in the same room. In this case, the interior will be overloaded and gloomy. You should choose one thing.

It is also worth considering that the predominance of black material will make any room visually smaller.

Types of stain

Impregnations for wood are divided into types according to the base material for their manufacture.

Water

Water in the base of stain is the most common base ingredient. This is the largest group of impregnations. It is produced in finished form or in powder, which is dissolved in water at home.

Its advantages:

• The solution is non-toxic due to its neutral base;
• A wide range of natural shades from the lightest to the deepest dark will help emphasize naturalness or deepen the tone, make the surface of the product more expressive and noble;
• Easy to apply, low consumption;
• Affordable.

A significant drawback is the ability to lift wood fibers, opening the way for moisture.

The solution is to keep the surface wet for some time, then remove the standing fibers with sandpaper and then impregnate. Another technique to prevent getting wet is to subsequently coat the painted layer with varnish.

In addition, the water base takes a relatively long time to dry.

Alcohol stain

Aniline dye dissolved in denatured alcohol. Wood stain is also sold dry or ready-made.

Its main advantage is that the layer, like alcohol, dries quickly. We classify this quality as a disadvantage: to obtain a uniform color, it is necessary to use a spray gun; when applied manually, alcohol impregnation often forms greasy stains.

Oil stain

Pigments dissolved in oil (White Spirit) allow you to tint wooden surfaces in all possible shades. This product is convenient for use at home - oil stain adheres well, it can be applied with any tool, it evenly penetrates deep into the wood, the texture of the wood is not disturbed, and a protective film is formed.

Acrylic and wax

Wood stain made from wax or acrylic belongs to a new generation of materials for treating and protecting wooden surfaces. Impregnation not only forms an insulating film. The colors of stain are expanded compared to other types - from natural to bright exotic. The effect of a bright colored coating with a natural wood structure is called stain.

This technique is used by many designers of modern furniture - the appearance of the facades of cabinets made of oak or other species with an unusual color evokes unusual sensations. The main disadvantage of the material is that the stain is more expensive than its analogues.

Stain with whitening effect

Not all types of wood need dark saturation; in some cases it is necessary to give a lighter and cleaner shade. For this purpose, stains based on acids or hydrogen peroxide have been developed. With their help, bleached timber is obtained, slightly discolored. In this way, the gray surface can be prepared for subsequent painting and processing.

Unique characteristics

The oak lives its first life on the shore, the second in the water. The priceless wood is environmentally friendly - it got into the water in the pre-industrial period. After spending at least 300 years under water, bog oak acquires silver and fawn shades. And after 1000 years, the wood becomes almost black, although there are specimens with a purple tint, which allows the products to look even more original. This occurs due to the lack of oxygen supply due to the layer of sand and silt under which the tree rests, and high pressure. At this time, special chemical reactions take place and a natural preservative, tannin, is produced. Oak acquires amazing properties - it becomes hard, almost like stone and resistant to rotting and drying out, and no varnishes or paints are used in the manufacture of products - its texture and color are perfect.

Stained wood - incredible beauty and strength

Tree trunks and fragments lying under water are usually called driftwood. A logical name, considering that the tree actually ends up drowned and has been at the bottom of the sea, lake, river, or swamp for decades. It is noteworthy that some trunks turn into dust, rot and, of course, cannot be used. But other trees, on the contrary, acquire truly stone strength.

The most valuable stained wood is oak. This royal tree is already valued for its strength and beautiful texture. After lying under water for at least 300 years, oak acquires delicate fawn shades. If the tree is black, then it has lain in the reservoir for about 1000 years!

In the pre-industrial era, “black gold” was not called oil at all, but bog oak. Products made from it are practically eternal and are not subject to rotting, mildew or mildew. They do not need a protective coating, and stained wood also looks incredibly beautiful.

Besides oak, larch is considered the most valuable stained wood. No wonder. It is these tree species that, due to their high density, sink and sink to the bottom, where a transformation process occurs under a layer of silt or sand. Even in fresh water there are salts that interact with the tannins of wood and help it acquire special hardness and strength.

According to experts, for a tree to really become stained, it must lie under water for at least 40 years. In general, the longer the better, experts say. Ideal places to obtain stained wood are standing waters of swamps or lakes. But a tree that has lain in sea water, soaked in salt, will also be no less durable.

You can make literally anything from stained wood: furniture, parquet, various crafts, figurines and figurines, boxes, billiard cues, pipes, other interior items and even jewelry. This material has no disadvantages, but it is not accessible to everyone. Stained wood, especially oak and larch, is very expensive! There are several good reasons for this:

• Firstly, this is a rare material. Although, as calculated by the Central Research Institute of Lesoslava, during the transportation of tree trunks, approximately 1% of the total floated volume drowns, and about 9 million m3 of driftwood has accumulated in the Volga basin. That's a lot, you say. But finding sunken trunks is not easy. In addition, only 50% of all sunken wood can be classified as commercial, that is, suitable for further use. And there is no more than 5% oak among the driftwood. In Europe, the search for and lifting of flooded trees has been carried out for a long time and purposefully, so it is already very difficult to find driftwood in European countries. Russia still has reserves of this material;
• Secondly, lifting a tree to the surface is technically difficult. Special equipment is needed, usually requiring the help of scuba divers. The wood becomes heavy; you cannot get a whole trunk by hand;
• Thirdly, it’s not enough to get some driftwood. It also needs to be dried before use. This takes about a year, and in no case should you speed up the process; drying should occur naturally;
• Fourthly, it is difficult to process wood that has become very durable; special skills and tools are needed. Not all carpenters undertake to work with bog oak.

Therefore, for three kilograms of bog black oak on the Internet they often ask about 2 thousand rubles! Or 200 rubles for one small piece, literally a cube, suitable only for cutting out, for example, a knife handle. And a finished bog oak comb, such as shown in the photo above, will cost more than 12 thousand rubles.

You can imagine how much a parquet made of such material or a kitchen set will cost. Experts compare the cost of a good stained oak log with the price of a car. Cheaper are stained birch, pine, and aspen - they charge from 1.5 to 20 thousand rubles per cubic meter, depending on the condition and quality of the wood.

With such prices for stained wood, it is not surprising that manufacturers of furniture and interior items achieve similarity with the help of stains and special impregnations. Yes, this is already an imitation; in terms of strength and hardness, such wood is no different from ordinary wood, but the color becomes darker, more noble, and the structure is emphasized.

Stained wood is an elite material. Only for expensive interiors, decoration of yachts, interiors of exclusive cars, furniture that stands in the offices of presidents and executives of large companies. published

If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to the experts and readers of our project.

Stains or stains are tinting compounds that are used to finish wood to give it a more expressive shade. Absorbing into the wood structure, the liquid paints the surface layer, preserving the natural texture and surface relief.

Treatment with stain allows you to easily and without extra costs give inexpressive types of wood a more noble appearance. The ability to experiment with shades opens up wide possibilities when finishing projects.

The composition of the stains does not in any way affect the basic characteristics of the material. A film does not form on the surface, rot resistance, hardness and strength of the wood remain unchanged (in the absence of special components). Techniques for applying paint are quite easy to master.

The basis for stains can be water, alcohol, oil and other substances. Each type of finishing composition has its own characteristics, knowing which it is easy to choose the optimal type of finishing for a particular project.

The use of stained wood in construction

Guess why such a house will not be afraid of snow, rain, windy or frosty weather. All thanks to the “school of survival” that the wood underwent at the bottom of the bay, polynya, lake, pond or other body of water where it was located.

The main advantage of building from stained wood is environmental friendliness. It’s hard to imagine an even more natural material for constructing a residential building. Bog oak siding looks interesting.

What makes it a unique material, ideal for construction, is the lack of shrinkage during the drying process. Newly rebuilt housing is completely ready for use without risks to human life and health.

Oil varnishes

Among the main components are resins and pigments that are dissolved in oil. The consistency can be liquid or semi-liquid, which allows it to be applied to the surface of wood with a brush or roller. Affordable price is an attractive and positive factor for the majority of the population. After treatment, a thin transparent film appears on the surface, which acts as a protective barrier to moisture and ultraviolet healing. A characteristic yellow tint may appear.

A high degree of protection allows you to coat wooden products that are in the open air with oil varnishes.

Manufacturing of products from stained wood

Products made from natural wood that have undergone centuries-old natural processing are widely available on the market. From bog wood they produce:

• stairs of any shape;
• windows “stained oak” (shade);
• window sills;
• furniture panels;
• flooring;
• Wall panels;
• tinted doors “stained oak”;
• siding and other materials for exterior construction and home improvement.

Stained wood is an interesting solution for creating a room in a Scandinavian style.

It's nice to look at the interior when there is something unusual in it. Stained wood is the element that fully meets the needs of the designer, creating new and new things to improve human comfort.

What wood is used for ammonia haze?

The selected method is suitable for wood with a high content of tannins (tannins). The most popular wood species for using ammonia haze: oak, chestnut, ash. When treated with ammonium hydroxide vapor, this wood acquires a rich, luxurious color in shades from light coffee to black (depending on the exposure time).

The beautiful structure of apricot wood is better revealed after staining with ammonia and oil treatment, as in the third photo

Maple, hornbeam, birch, lilac, ash, hazel, and elm will not respond to treatment with ammonia vapors, or after prolonged exposure they will acquire an unattractive, dirty tint and become stained.

Designers and technologists are still trying to use ammonia haze for wood with a low tannin content. Through experiments, it turned out that if you saturate the surface of the workpiece with strong tea, let it dry, and then place it in a stain chamber or tank, the wood will still darken, but will not have such rich shades as oak or chestnut.

How does it happen that the result is stained wood?

The whole secret is in tannins, which, as a result of the formation of compounds with iron salts, are transformed into super-strong and durable ones. Stained oak boards can be called a reborn material with unique characteristics.

Interesting! Timber has been floated naturally down major rivers all over the world. The banks of the rivers were fortified with oak groves, and when the trunks fell into the water, they remained there to be naturally processed by the elements of nature. About 90% have already been processed, but some of the trees were washed away with silt and remained under water to this day, acquiring even greater value.

Features of oak extraction and processing

The process is complex and labor-intensive, and not every specialist can handle wood processing. Despite this, the products deserve the highest praise due to their qualities.

Important! If you plan to process or decorate the surface with stained wood, then try to prepare the material in advance. It takes more than one year to process wood.

To obtain such valuable material, water areas of significant volumes are examined, especially the bottom of reservoirs. Moreover, the work is carried out in very difficult conditions.

Slough is a delicate matter

Alexander Dupanov, director of the Trans-Center (Gomel, Belarus), which has been extracting and processing natural bog oak on an industrial scale since 1998, witnessed a real boom in the extraction of bog wood. According to him, in the 90s of the twentieth century, many entrepreneurs tried to organize a business in this area, but they wanted to do it quickly, without significant investments, without attracting highly professional specialists. As a result, thousands of cubic meters of valuable material were ineptly destroyed.

On the Internet you can still find many offers for the sale of bog wood, but, according to Alexander Alexandrovich, the vast majority of these are one-time offers and, as a rule, entrepreneurs do not guarantee the shipment of material in the declared volume, much less the declared quality.

“In the post-Soviet space there are only a few enterprises capable of providing the entire cycle - from the extraction of fuelwood and its processing to the output of finished high-quality material. A number of companies simply do not have proven technologies,” says Mr. Dupanov. “In addition, when organizing production, they do not take into account that the funds received from the sale of dry bog wood do not cover the long-term costs of producing high-quality material. For example, to obtain 100 m3 of high-quality dry bog oak, it is necessary to find, extract and process at least 1000 m3 of driftwood.

Extraction and processing of bog wood is a complex and lengthy process. First, you need to conduct reconnaissance and draw up maps of the location of the flooded wood. To do this, specialists have to explore 300-400 km of the river, then scuba divers get down to business - descending to a depth of 30 m to discover the exact location of the flooded forest. Sunken trunks need to be lifted ashore (and in such a way as not to damage them), carefully transported, sorted and processed. Experts say that stained wood is a very capricious material; it can lose its properties after lying in the open air for several hours.

According to Vladimir Pushkarev, the head of the company, which is engaged in the extraction and processing of drift wood, in order to engage in bog wood at an industrial level, you need to invest several million dollars in the business. “The extraction of marine raw materials is fraught with risk. It is necessary to create a team of like-minded people. And those who hope to get rich quickly in this business will be disappointed, he says. -Our company is engaged in the extraction of driftwood not for the sake of making huge profits and enrichment, but because we like this business. You have to be a fan to do this.”

Features of the reaction

Changes in the physical and mechanical characteristics of wood associated with the passage of complex chemical reactions: leaching of water-soluble substances contained in the cell walls. The process has been proven by the results of numerous studies conducted by N. T. Kuznetsov back in the 30s of the last century.

As a result, it was possible to establish that stained wood contains 75% less water-soluble substances than natural wood. This indicates an increase in cell porosity and a decrease in their density, which results in an increase in the moisture content of the saturation limit, balancing shrinkage, and maximum humidity. It is this factor that explains the absolute shrinkage of boards or workpieces during drying of the sawing material.

The analysis data contributed to the development of thought and the formation of a new technology for drying wood and blanks made from it with a thickness of up to 22-32 mm in a convective or convective-microwave oven, or a vacuum-dielectric drying unit.

The use of advanced technologies has resolved the issue of temperature treatment of wood. There is virtually no internal or external cracking. Collapse in such cases is unacceptable.

The interesting concepts put forward by researchers and scientists do not end there. The study of the properties of stained wood is at the stage of processing geoanalysis data and continues its evolution in the world.

Using bog oak

In order to create products from bog oak, it must be properly dried and stored. International and state standards for ordinary wood are not suitable for bog oak. Special requirements affect its cost. Properly soaked and dried bog oak is expensive, which reduces the demand for it. Unfortunately, illiterate miners of this value, neglecting all the rules, throw the trunks in the sun or leave them in open-air areas for the winter, store them on barges, etc. As a result, most of the material becomes unusable and is used for firewood, and the remainder, which can be used elsewhere, is sold at a low price.

In the 90s, there were many cases when hundreds of cubic meters of bog oak were lifted from the water, sent wet abroad by wagons, and as a result it went into the furnace, because... upon arrival was not suitable for manufacturing products. Because of this, Western investors have lost interest in running such a business for a long time. Sometimes some of the raised trunks were thrown back into the reservoir. It is extremely difficult to return such material to normal condition when re-lifted.

Even in our time, there are very few specialists who can properly process wood. But if no mistakes are made, products made from bog oak truly become masterpieces of art in the hands of skilled craftsmen. For centuries, stunning and unique things were created from it - a variety of furniture, boxes, caskets and figurines - and was called “black gold”. Wealthy people could even afford parquet flooring for exorbitant amounts of money. Carving on bog oak was trusted only to trusted “blacksmiths”. Oak sets adorned the best houses, and men walked pompously with pipes made from this tree. Making it into veneer or covering it with varnishes, plastics and synthetic resins is absurd.

Bog oak is a valuable material that cannot be replenished, like any fossil. Hundreds of years must pass for new specimens to appear. But they will no longer be environmentally friendly due to environmental pollution. A thoughtless, superficial attitude towards the material leads to a reduction in stocks, but for now there is time to purchase products from centuries-old trees. They will serve more than one generation and will inspire awe among true connoisseurs of the natural beauty that nature has created.

How is a tree brought to the surface?

Having discovered the trunk, the bog oak is lifted ashore. In this case, it is impossible to do without the use of technology, since one tree weighs around 10-20 tons. Before starting to saw the material, the wood pulled out of the water is assessed at the first stage for quality. Sometimes a tree that has been taken out of the water and prepared for processing is completely unsuitable for further work. As soon as the material is cut, the production of parquet, furniture, doors or window frames immediately begins. Untreated stained wood, kept under water for many years, quickly becomes unusable on the surface. Therefore it must be processed immediately. As you have most likely noticed, extracting bog oak is a labor-intensive process.

Main differences from artificial

Nowadays, there are technologies for artificially creating the effect of bog oak. But there are always ways to spot a fake.

• Bog oak is a fossil material; it is fundamentally different from freshly cut oak, since during a long period of time in a humid, airless environment, completely different processes take place in it, associated with the transformation of internal energy.
• Natural bog oak grew at one time in ecologically absolutely healthy, pre-industrial conditions, which makes it possible to produce environmentally friendly products from it, which are in great demand and attention at the present time.
• Reserves of natural bog oak are limited and irreplaceable.
• The vast majority of famous bog oak products are of cultural and historical value.
• Currently, mainly 50-100 year old oak wood is processed, that is, wood that has been fully exposed to technogenic factors at the cellular level.

In this issue of the Forest Expert magazine we continue the conversation about a unique and rare type of material - stained oak or black wood. It has long been no secret that the traditions of making products from bog oak have faced many challenges over the last century. Today, there are practically no bog oak reserves left in Europe. In Russia, despite centuries of experience in mining and processing this material, bog oak was “crossed off the list” for about 70 years. It would seem that the fashion for expensive gifts made of raven black wood has sunk into the past along with prim balls and gilded carriages - but in recent years the situation has begun to change. Thanks to the efforts of people who combine passion, respect for Nature and the ability to take risks, the tradition of making bog oak products is experiencing its Renaissance. On the pages of our “Expert Opinion” section is a word from Dmitry Isaenko, who has worked his way up from a forester to the president of the Rusexport Consortium, whose company currently occupies a leading position in the market for the extraction and processing of black wood.

Source - lesnoyexpert.spb.ru/index.php?p=article&id=view&n=6&a=4

*** If we touch on the history of bog oak traditions, it should be noted that in Rus' they have been working with black wood for a long time. We didn’t have the concept of “cabinet maker”; elite wood products were made from bog oak and it was cabinet makers who worked with them. This material in Rus' is ancient. Furniture, souvenirs and crafts were made from it; products made from bog oak were passed down by inheritance. Before the revolution, this elite material was industrially mined by the Moscow-Kazan Railway joint-stock company; bog oak reserves were developed in the territory of Mordovia. Then, due to the outbreak of the First World War, the extraction of bog oak was closed. This happened due to the fact that, basically, the extracted material was supplied to Europe, where interiors were created in royal courts - staircases, railings and other parts of the interior of the houses of august persons were decorated with bog oak. Due to the outbreak of war, all contracts with Europeans were canceled. The official announcement that the production of bog oak products had been revived was broadcast by teletypes and news agencies on May 27, 2004.

As for me, I have been dealing with this problem for a long time; the Rusexport Consortium was created in early 2002 - precisely for the revival of lost technologies, mining, drying, processing and production of products. Before registering the company, I was developing technologies with leading professors at the Moscow State Forestry Institute. Since there has been no contact between woodworkers and the scientific community since 1991, I tried to restore this necessary connection, clarifying the questions on which products bog oak can be used and in what quantities. This topic is very interesting, because the secrets of black oak, stained over 2 thousand years ago, have not yet been fully solved. In hydromorphic conditions, during the leaching process, weak structural elements (weak ligvine) are washed out and their place is taken by polyminerals and metal salts of iron, aluminum, etc. With the further presence of the trunk in water, gradual mineralization of the remaining organics occurs, the largest role here is played by tannins and cellulose. At the same time, metals strengthen interstructural bonds. Due to this, oak acquires uncharacteristic increased strength, hardness, and density. Therefore, in Rus' there were a lot of practices about healing a person with this tree - products made from bog oak, located in the surrounding interior, heal. This fact is undeniable; we have begun extensive research work together with the Krasnoyarsk Wood Institute to study the features of the positive effect of bog oak on the human body. Specific research results will be documented - what diseases bog oak treats, what is the effectiveness of such treatment, what preventive effects it has.

I would like to note that in Russia, during the work of our Consortium, it has become fashionable to have some kind of accessory made of black wood at home; more and more orders are coming in. This year, the Rusexport Consortium was awarded the National Environmental Prize of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences for its contribution to the environment. As the head of the Russian Federal Forestry Agency Valery Roshchupkin noted, the Rusexport Consortium is the only enterprise that creates masterpieces of furniture art without harming wildlife. We work only with fossil materials, without causing damage to wildlife.

Many unscrupulous manufacturers sell oak painted with stain; oak, boiled in a special chamber, as well as driftwood, which lay under water for several decades and has no value as a material - neither in color nor in the medicinal properties of the material. Real bog oak is a very expensive elite material, which has no equal in the world. The mineralization process, which has been going on for less than one and a half thousand years, is unfinished. We are trying to develop deposits of bog oak, the process of staining the material of which takes at least one and a half to two thousand years. This year, the Institute of Geology of Russian Sciences confirmed that the age of the oak tree being developed by the Consortium is at least two thousand one hundred and fifty years. We have no competitors in the West, but since European countries were leaders in the production of interiors, we decided not to reinvent the wheel and invited leading European enterprises to the Consortium.

Let me remind you that Rusexport has entered into agreements to create joint brands with such Italian furniture enterprises as the palace furniture production company Carlo Monzio Compagnon, the production of collectible furniture Maestro Carlo Cappellini, and the furniture group Emergroup. At the same time, not a single kilogram of our raw materials “went” abroad. There are also orders from a Russian customer. Thus, recently the state transport company placed an order with the Consortium to produce four tables made of stained wood for the aircraft of the President of the Russian Federation. It is quite possible that after this order, the fashion for bog oak interiors will follow among officials of the Russian government apparatus. I don’t see anything wrong with state-owned companies - such as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - and many companies that require representative interiors and furniture ordering them from a company that creates interiors without harming the environment. This is how it should be - first of all, the state should take care of our environment. Since relict oak forests have been completely destroyed all over the world, and there are only about 1.5% of oak forests on Earth, and they continue to degrade (every 20-30, according to statistics, their numbers are reduced by 20-30%), it is easy to take care of protecting oak forests necessary. In the case where you need to use hard wood, and, in particular, oak, you need to use bog oak as the material. This should be done not because bog oak interiors are now in fashion, but, first of all, in the name of preserving wildlife.

In addition, today Russia is increasingly losing its handicraft resources; it will be very difficult, if not practically impossible, to revive them later. Therefore, it is necessary to engage in them, to revive the half-forgotten traditions of folk crafts right now. Well, in order to avoid getting into trouble and becoming a victim of scammers who sell counterfeit products, passing them off as made from bog oak, I would advise the following. Before making a purchase, contact the expert department of our Consortium or carefully study the certificates attached to the product.

I will not hide that the revival of industrial technologies from bog oak, like any other “know-how,” required a lot of work. Therefore, there are only one percent of those who bring their original idea to fruition. Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs in the market are too pragmatic and conservative. In order to bring my idea to life, I needed professionalism, faith in the idea, faith in scientists and love for Nature.

There are two ways to obtain bog oak wood - in natural conditions and artificially. In the first case, nature itself acts as the creator. By eroding river banks and drowning the roots of oak trees, this “master” ensures that the trees are completely immersed in water. Next, the tannins contained in oak wood come into play. They prevent the wood from rotting. Metal salts dissolved in water, combining with tannins and resinous substances, change the properties of wood.

Thus, an oak tree that has been in water for hundreds of years, covered with a layer of silt, not only does not lose its characteristics, but also becomes a precious material. After being removed from the water, a person takes hold of the bog oak. Its main task is to properly dry the wood. This will require several years and special technology. After stained oak can be processed, making elite wooden products from it.

There are only a tiny number of bog oaks left in the world. Each new copy is worth its weight in gold. The complexity of extraction, processing and processing of wood affects the cost of the final products. So natural bog oak wood is an elite material, rare and expensive.

Cheaper analogues are obtained by artificial staining, using mordants and dyes. Oak wood is placed in a bath with a solution of the necessary inorganic salts and compounds, and the material is deeply processed. To increase density and increased resistance to external influences, craftsmen resort to heat treatment and steaming. Impregnation with natural oils is also used to protect wood. Bog oak of artificial origin is close to natural in color and characteristics. This allows the use of analogues in the production of furniture, stairs and finishing materials. However, artificial wood is not so valuable and cannot be a source of pride for a true connoisseur.