I want to reduce the contrast of a piece of wood.
古いトタンに合わせてタモのコントラストを下げたいと思いました。
簡単な方法は、たぶん、漂白剤を使うこと。
でも、それはやりたくない。
そこで、まず、ワイヤーブラシでうづくりにし、重曹で仕上げ。
そこから、ソープフィニッシュ×3回、最後に保護の為にイボタ蝋を擦り込みました。
結果、無垢のタモ材と比較するとコントラスを下げた静かで柔らかい雰囲気になりました。
うづくり とは、植物性やナイロン、鉄などの硬いワイヤーで表面を擦る事で、立体感のある表情を作ります。
昔の日本人は使い込まれた木材に美を感じて、そこからヒントをえて、”うづくり”を考え出したような気がします。
ソープフィニッシュは、木材に薄い石鹸の皮膜を作り、保護する北欧家具で使われる手法。
最後のイボタ蝋は、写真に写っている白い物で簡単にいうと昔の蝋燭です。これが面白いもので、イボタという木に寄生する虫の幼虫が分泌物から作られます。仕上げ方法ってたくさんあって面白いですね。
For the recent Vintage Galvanized Counter, I used tamo (Japanese ash) on the top surface.
To better match the aged galvanized sheet I wanted to reduce the contrast of this piece.
Bleach may be a simple solution, but I hate using it.
So my approach was ”uzukuri” (A hard wire brush) followed by scrubbing with baking soda. I followed this with triple soap-finish, before finally covering with wax “ibotarō” to protect the wood.
This process removed contrast and softened the appearance compared to the original piece.
Uzukuri is a traditional Japanese wood finishing technique. With it I’m able to make a very textured wood surface.How to uzukuri – Brush surface of wood (fiber, nylon, wire) so hard point remains but soft point is removed, resulting in a rugged surface.What is the reason for Vintage wood is beautifull?I think an important point is that when well used or aged, wood catches natural scratches.I guess that a Japanese craftsman from antiquity was inspired by seeing this transformation and from this came uzukuri.
Soap finish is a technique used in Scandinavian woodworking that uses soap to create a thin soap film on wood to protect it.
The last privet wax (ibotarō) – the white block in the photo – is actually very similar to an old paraffin candle. It is used as a finish for paulownia chests and as a lubricant on sills and slides.This is interesting because the larvae of the wax scale insect (ibota mushi; Ericerus pela) live on the privet tree and secrete this wax as a defense. Ibotarō is used as a polish and gives a very soft luster.
There are many natural finishing methods and it is interesting. Please let me know if there’s any techniques that are unique to your area…
