Wooden slabs are considered the main design trend of recent years. They are used for the manufacture of furniture or individual interior items. Consider the features of creating and using products from slab.
- What are slabs
- Material Features
- Where are slabs used
- DIY wooden slabs
- Technological stages of manufacturing slabs
- Solid Wood Care
What are slabs
The concept of “slab” came from the English language, it does not refer directly to wood, but translates as “plate, plate” in the broadest sense. It can mean a metal structure, a piece of stone, or a wood saw cut.
A wood slab is a longitudinal (sometimes transverse) saw cut of an oak, elm, ash, poplar, and walnut trunk. This is an original, practical and environmentally friendly material that has gained immense popularity around the world.
In the section of the tree reveals its nobility, pristine beauty and grandeur. After processing, the trunk does not lose its natural lines and shapes, and the presence of small defects, imperfect shapes and knottyness only emphasizes its unique relief.
to contents ↑Material Features
For cutting, as a rule, the lower part of the trunk is used - it is wider and stronger. The width of the workpiece can reach 1.5 m, and the thickness is usually 5-15 cm.
A real array is considered a solid array, but in some cases it can be spliced from several saw cuts. The finished canvas can be supplemented with decorative acrylic glass inserts or epoxy interlayers.
to contents ↑Wooden boards have a different size, shape, texture. It is impossible to meet two identical saw cuts, each of them is unique and individual. Therefore, products from the array are exclusive.
Where are slabs used
Most often, furniture is made from them, for example, dining tables, bar counters, cabinets, benches, shelves. Sometimes in the interior you can find a door or a headboard made of solid wood. Some designers use them to frame mirrors, make fixtures, create sliding partitions.
An authentic wooden slab will emphasize the laconicism and minimalism of the loft space, support the cozy rustic style of a country house, and decorate a modern Scandinavian interior.
to contents ↑DIY wooden slabs
The extraction and processing of wood slabs is a costly and time-consuming process. With your own hands, without involving technology, it is practically impossible to do this in a quality manner. Sawing a massive trunk with a diameter of more than a meter, its storage, transportation, drying require special equipment.
But you can try to make your own slab from a small log using a mini sawmill or chainsaw.
to contents ↑Technological stages of manufacturing slabs
Harvested materials must be dried to the required moisture level. Drying can occur naturally in the open air or in special drying chambers under the influence of infrared radiation or vacuum systems.
Chamber drying can cause significant drying stresses, which, in turn, lead to cracking, warping, violation of the structure and color of wood. Slabs are particularly susceptible to such processes due to the large thickness of the boards and their inhomogeneous drying.
To protect the surface and prevent the formation of cracks, stabilizers are processed and small cuts are made in the slab. The need for such measures depends on the dimensions of the structure, as well as the type of wood used.
The subsequent steps involve removal of the bark, size calibration, filling the cracks with epoxy resin. The final stage is the polishing of the slice and its coating with a protective oil composition or a thin layer of varnish.
Solid Wood Care
Excessive air dryness, excessive humidity, sudden temperature changes can damage the unprotected wood texture and lead to cracking. Therefore, it is recommended to periodically perform preventive treatment of products with wax, oil or other special compounds. This point is especially important if the furniture is located in the kitchen or in the bathroom.
Under the influence of sunlight, the shade of the tree may change over time, but this will not have any effect on other characteristics.
Products should be wiped with a dry or damp soft cloth without the use of harsh chemicals. With proper care, wooden products will retain their quality and impeccable appearance for a long time.
