Cutting Wood Logs Into Wood Slabs
At the very beginning of the process, all our solid wood comes in log form. Keep the log form as it is will take a very long time for the wood to lose its moisture content to the atmosphere. The longer the time taken, the more prone is the log subjected to insects and fungi attack or even rotting. At Collectif Designs, we cut the log into slabs, in this way, the surface area is increased, which will shorten the time taken for the slabs evaporate away the moisture content.
Air Drying And Sun Drying
After being cut into slabs, the wood will go through a anti-termite process and after which we will place them under sun. The slabs will stay in this drying process for a few months. We let the natural elements of Wind, Sun and gravity to do the work. Occasionally we need to turn, flip and re-arrange the position of the slabs to ensure that each slabs and their surface area are evenly dried.
Collectif Designs Solid Wood
Kiln Drying Oven
Natural drying at this stage is subject to weather conditions and will still required a long time to achieve the ideal moisture content for Suar wood slabs and the chances of insects and fungi attack increases over time The natural drying process will be consider waste once we enter the monsoon season. Thus our slabs will undergo the kiln drying process, where temperature and humidity of the environment can be controlled. and monitored.
Vacuum Pressure Treatment
The Vacuum Pressure process extend the life of solid wood slabs. It increase the durability of wood and increases the resistance of wood against insects attack and fungus decay.
Once our wood slabs is dried to below 25% moisture, we transfer the slabs to this process to undergo the Vacuum Pressure Treatment. The woods are loaded on the trolley and send into the cylinders. The slabs will go through a number of phase during this process. During the first phase, the wood is flooded with preservative solution under vacuum conditions using powerful vacuum pumps. The vacuum condition will allow better absorbing of the solutions.
Collectif Designs Vacuum Pressure Treatment
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Collectif Designs Vacuum Pressure Treatment
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High pressure condition is applied in the second phase of the treatment. During this phase, the extreme pressure pushes more treatment solution deeper and more uniformly into the cells of the wood to achieve the maximum effect of the preservative solution. The final phase is to drain the solutions under vacuum condition to ensure no spillage or dripping when the wood slabs are being remove from the cylinders.
Back To Drying Oven
The moisture content of the slabs will increase after the Vacuum Pressure Treatment due to the chemicals. Therefore we will transport the slabs back into the oven for further drying. Once ready, the slabs will be taken out from the kiln and stack neatly for storage.