Ruphus -> RE: Roasted spruce (Sep. 12 2018 3:07:55)
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Tom, This man could know where specifically treated spruce might be available: Dr.-Ing. Alexander Pfriem, Tel. 0351 463-39181 E-Mail: alexander.pfriem@tu-dresden.de While I was googling for his contact data for you, me came across two detailed descriptions, which could be informing for those interested. This Wiki-article on basics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermally_modified_wood Saying treatment makes wood more durable, less receptive to humidity / swelling / warping / cracking and to temperature fluctuation. Drawback: less sturdy in construction statics. And that it turned out positive for instruments quality. On the later, following link: https://idw-online.de/en/news205800 , which I just sent through a translating mashine. quote:
Thermowood improves the acoustic properties of musical instruments - Friedrich-und-Elisabeth-Boysen-Förderpreis 2006 awarded Kim-Astrid, Magister Press Office Technical University Dresden In his dissertation, Alexander Pfriem from the Institute for Wood and Paper Technology of the TUD investigated for the first time the use of thermally modified woods in the construction of musical instruments - with success. The environmentally friendly material, which makes the use of tropical woods largely superfluous, also improves the sound of the instruments. For this, the scientist was awarded the Förderpreis der Friedrich-und-Elisabeth-Boysen-Stiftung 2006 in Dresden last weekend. What is the difference between the darker thermo wood and normal wood, and how is it made? Wood consists essentially of three components: cellulose and lignin, which are responsible for the compressive and tensile strength of the material, and hemicellulose, which binds the other two substances together. If wood is now heated to 180-220 ° C with oxygen being excluded, this third component is primarily mined; the short-chain sugar molecules crystallize out. Due to the degradation of hemicellulose the docking points for water are missing; The wood swells and shrinks less and is less prone to wood consuming organisms. However, as the heating time increases, the strength properties also decrease more and more. The corresponding procedures were originally developed and patented in Germany. Since the mid-nineties, thermo wood has been used in various European countries primarily as weather-resistant facade and floor wood. Since heating also changes the acoustic properties of the wood, thermo wood should also be of interest to the musical instrument industry, thought dr. Awl. In a joint project with the Institute for Musical Instrument Making Zwota, which was funded by the Association of Industrial Research Associations (AiF), he investigated the material behavior of thermally modified woods, their damping and elastic properties. A musical instrument maker made a series of guitars with thermal wood ceilings, and the instruments were characterized, tested and evaluated in a cooperation of the TU Chair Wood and Fiber Material Technology with the Institute for Musical Instrument Making in Zwota. Result: the acoustics of the wood are significantly improved by the thermal modification. An instrument maker from Vienna now offers successfully handmade plucked thermowood instruments. In wind instruments such as the bassoon or instruments such as the harmonica, not at last the lower water absorption is a major argument for the new material. Investigated with funds from a DFG project Dr. Pfriem therefore now more accurately invests the moisture transport in the wood. His next research object is the Queen of Instruments, the organ. Financing applications have been made, with three organ builders from Saxony first contacts. PS: Regarding smell: It´s said to have a smokey smell which ought to fade away though. Could be it makes appetite for smoked fish filets.
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