Cutting Solid 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.
Solid Wood Slabs Air Drying And Sun Drying
After being cut into slabs, the wood will go through an anti-termite process and after which we will place them under the sun. The solid wood 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 slab and their surface area are evenly dried.
Suar Wood - Collectif Designs Singapore
Kiln Drying Oven For All Of Our Solid Wood
Natural drying at this stage is subject to weather conditions and will still require a long time to achieve the ideal moisture content for Solid wood slabs and the chances of insects and fungi attack increases over time The natural drying process will be considered 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 For All Solid Wood Types
The Vacuum Pressure process extends the life of solid wood slabs. It increases the durability of wood and increases the resistance of wood against insects attack and fungus decay.
Once our solid wood slabs are dried to below 20% moisture, we transfer the slabs to this process to undergo the Vacuum Pressure Treatment. The wood slabs are loaded on the trolley and send into the cylinders. The slabs will go through a number of phases during this process. During the first phase, the wood is flooded with the preservative solution under vacuum conditions using powerful vacuum pumps. The vacuum condition will allow better absorption of the solutions.
Vacuum Pressure Treatment For Suar Wood And Teak Wood Slabs - Collectif Designs
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Vacuum Pressure Treatment For Suar Wood And Teak Wood Slabs - Collectif Designs
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A 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 the vacuum condition to ensure no spillage or dripping when the wood slabs are being removed 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 solid wood slabs will be taken out from the kiln and stack neatly for storage.