Thermally modified oak?

[Brian Runau]

what do you think of . Brian

[Jim Becker]

That link you made points to your email account... ;)

Thermally modified wood is becoming an increasingly interesting choice for certain kinds of projects. Andy Rawls (on the 'Tube) recently did a major outdoor decking project with thermally modified ash and it turned out outstanding. This kind of material goes way beyond kiln drying in that it's literally chemically changed by the process so it no longer absorbs moisture, etc., which makes it extremely durable in extreme conditions. I find it very interesting.

[Kevin Jenness]

Malcolm Schweizer recently described building a run of exterior doors using torrefied ash. https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?307291-Building-laminated-veneered-doors

[Brian Runau]

That link you made points to your email account... ;)

Thermally modified wood is becoming an increasingly interesting choice for certain kinds of projects. Andy Rawls (on the 'Tube) recently did a major outdoor decking project with thermally modified ash and it turned out outstanding. This kind of material goes way beyond kiln drying in that it's literally chemically changed by the process so it no longer absorbs moisture, etc., which makes it extremely durable in extreme conditions. I find it very interesting.

Thanks Jim.

[Jimmy Harris]

Never used it. Torrefied wood is more brittle than regular wood. So what you gain in dimensional stability, hardness, and water resistance, you lose in strength. There are instances where this tradeoff can be desirable, but there are also other options that might make even more sense, like all of these new engineered wood products. However, if you like the aesthetics, I suppose it can be good in the right circumstances.

It's like anything else. It can be a good choice is you use it wisely. But if you're using it just to use it, you might get burnt. It's only good or bad within the context in which it is used.

[Maurice Mcmurry]

I have been experimenting with heat treating wood but have not tried oak yet. I see real advantages with some woods when taken to 214 degrees for the last 24 hours of the drying process. Many woods can not take the heat. The hardwoods I have experiment with start to degrade at around 245 degrees if they are heated in air. A gentleman on Banjo Hangout posted some of his data recently.

https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/396111/2

https://www.banjohangout.org/archive/198130

[Michael Burnside]

As Jim mentioned above, I too find it interesting. I wouldn't use it all the time, but I do think it can provide some interesting looks not easily obtained by other methods.

I recently built something using roasted oak and posted about it here. As noted, some things you know about the unmodified wood may not apply, so I recommend experimenting before committing to a whole project.

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?307661-Sideboard-using-roasted-oak-and-black-limba&referrerid=250818

[Brian Runau]

Good information, thanks brian

[Edward Weber]

Never used it. Torrefied wood is more brittle than regular wood. So what you gain in dimensional stability, hardness, and water resistance, you lose in strength. There are instances where this tradeoff can be desirable, but there are also other options that might make even more sense, like all of these new engineered wood products. However, if you like the aesthetics, I suppose it can be good in the right circumstances.

It's like anything else. It can be a good choice is you use it wisely. But if you're using it just to use it, you might get burnt. It's only good or bad within the context in which it is used.

I totally agree,
Sometimes I fear this is becoming one of those "trends" that gains a life of it's own, far beyond the benefits of the product itself.
I personally wouldn't use it for a deck but to each his own. The physical properties must be considered if thermally modified wood (torrified) is used for anything other than a purely aesthetic application.