Magma Wall Panels - Decorating with Fabric

Along the lines of the Japanese tradition Yakisugi (a process of conserving wood by charring the surface), we have developed a process that gives wood surfaces an elegant charred character called Magma.

Japan has influenced western design in surges over the past 150 years, the yakisugi aesthetic having been brought into modern global architecture in the form of a black monolithic surface. Yakisugi is starting to be accepted worldwide as a technically and cosmetically desirable wood cladding, but has often been interpreted as a chic, high-design building material. In its home market however, it is simply standard, utility wood siding, affordably priced and with improved longevity over untreated wood.

There is a lot of information in the public domain on the traditional manufacture of yakisugi, namely tying three planks into a triangle tube and lighting the interior on fire before opening and quenching with cold water when ready. The planks can also be burnished with a propane torch or sent through a kiln for volume production. The charred surface can be left as-is, or the sooty outer layer brushed off for a more finished look.

The charring is not only cosmetic in effect. It improves the lifetime of the planks by preventing decay and rot, discourages insect infestation, improves dimensional stability, and improves flame retardant properties. Wood is made up of fibrous lignin and metabolize-able cellulose, and heat treatment leaves the structural lignin intact while neutralizing the cellulose. Since cellulose contains the sugars so desirable to insects, bacteria, and fungus, heat-treated wood will last longer than untreated wood. Note that yakisugi is not the same as thermally modified wood from the Finnish process, though it exhibits similar characteristics due to heat-treatment.

Charred Bark Panel Details:
Board Price: $16-18 sq/ft plus shipping
Minimum Order: 5 panels
Board Width: 5 11/16“
Board Length: 145 3/4″ max
Board Thickness: 5/16″
Lead Time: 4 weeks

Charred Wood Species:
Cryptomeria japonica, a native Japanese Cypress species known for rot resistance and dimensional stability. Cryptomeria is the “sugi” in yakisugi and “shou-sugi-ban”, also called Japanese Cypress or Japanese Cedar in the West.

There are 3 types of Charred Bark Panels available which can be seen below in their respective available finishes:

Suyaki Charred Bark Finishes:

Deep-penetrating clear oil finish will bond loose soot into the surface and preserve natural effervescence of the charred surface. Only minor soot will wipe off when gently touched, though surface remains soft.
Surface-hardening polymer or epoxy finish will bond loose soot into the surface and stabilize the charring for a more robust surface. Color is a consistent matte black.
Unfinished charred surface is soft and sooty when touched, and damages easily. A thin, effervescent silver to rainbow carbon shell covers the surface. This surface can easily be damaged in irregular patterns during transport and installation, revealing a jet black matte carbon surface below. Unfinished Suyaki will cover the installers head to toe in soot. This is the longest-wearing surface.

Gendai Charred Bark Brushed Once Finishes:

Deep-penetrating transparent oil finish will bond loose soot into the surface and show depth of grain. Soot will not wipe off when touched and surface is solid. Stains are always dark with subdued color. This topcoat is long lasting and can be specified for any application.
Penetrating semi-transparent oil finish will bond loose soot into the surface and show depth of grain. Soot will not wipe off when touched and surface is solid. Colors can be vibrant, and either wiped with a dry rag or brushed before drying to achieve specified balance of grain display to UV protection. Larger pigment selection available than transparent.
Hybrid oil finish is a combination of light and heavy oils. The light oil will penetrate and protect from within while the heavier oil will remain on the surface to protect from UV and show more pigment.
Unfinished Gendai will change color relatively quickly. Surface is sooty at first but will not shed much soot after a couple of heavy rains.

Pika-Pika Charred Bark Brushed Twice Finishes:

Deep-penetrating transparent oil finish will show depth of grain and give a polished look. The entire palette of colors can be used without limitation. Dark colors can be wiped off late wood with a dry rag for greater contrast, or brushed wet for less contrast and greater UV resistance. This topcoat is long lasting and can be specified for any application.
Penetrating semi-transparent oil finish will show depth of grain and give a polished look. The entire palette of colors can be used without limitation. Dark colors can be wiped off late wood with a dry rag for greater contrast, or brushed wet for less contrast and greater UV resistance. Larger pigment selection available than transparent.
Hybrid oil finish is a combination of light and heavy oils. The light oil will penetrate and protect from within while the heavier oil will remain on the surface to protect from UV and show more pigment.