.jpg){kind=tracking}
From soft wood to hard wood - Or the process of surface hardening and pigmentation
The basis of the technique is that among the large trees, there are several wonderful species of wood that can be categorized as softwood, because of this, the final product, the surface, is very fragile and easily scratched and dented in the absence of appropriate surface treatment. Soft woods are able to form wonderful patterns due to the structural deformation compressed under their own weight over decades and centuries. These formations caused by pressure can litter the surface of the sheets with literally 3D motifs, not to mention the often not uncommon knotting in the case of soft woods, which is a miracle in itself. A few years ago, I took it into my head that the carpenters refuse to use soft wood, saying that it is not good for the table, maybe only outdoors. We are so addicted to these patterns that we started testing and researching what techniques could be used to bring the surface closer to the strength of hardwoods, or even surpass them, so that the touch remains wood, not some kind of plastic surface when you touch it. Thanks to this effort, we are now able to create tables made of poplar, willow, and linden that withstand the tests of physical impacts to the maximum. This opens up a completely new dimension in the world of live-edge tables. Poplar is a particularly great treasure, despite how underrated it is. Due to its neutral colors, it can be pigmented incredibly well, so it is possible to create a grain of almost any color with a shade similar to other wood by pigmenting. In the picture, for example, the goal was specifically the American black walnut effect. In addition to its beauty, lets not go by the price category either. If such a walnut board exists on the market, the price of a table made of poplar wood can easily exceed the price of the unedged raw material. The secret of the technique lies in soaking the coloring and hardening components into the wood in several stages in the correct order of layer treatment, so the end result is a dazzling color scheme and a maximally durable surface. Of course, the process also works with the natural colors of the wood. It basically increases the time it takes to make a table, but it is well worth the effort.
