Shou Sugi Ban is a traditional form of preserving lumber by use of fire. In the image above you will see before and after pictures of a few pieces of scrap cedar I turned into a sand box for my daughters.
I feel that the finished product of Shou Sugi Ban is one of the most beautiful techniques of preserved wood. The flame gives a rustic look while sealing the pours by melting and then hardening of the sap in the wood. The length of time and intensity of the heat determines the final look. You can do a very light "golden" touch to a black chared look and anywhere in between. After the process the wood is fire resistant, pest resistant and rot resistant - even more so than most chemically treated lumber. When used as siding, it's most common application, Shou Sugi Ban lumber can have an expected life span of 80 years!
In a future post I will do a step by step guide of the process.
