Shou Sugi Ban… (and the joy of the hand torch)
by Daniel Easley
The variety of finishes that are possible with the hand torch open up an absolutely enjoyable range of looks to choose from for your final product.
There are a million ways to finish your wood furniture, siding, decorations and more. The question is always, “what type of wood will be used and why?” We’ve recently found ourselves doing a lot of outdoor furniture, from adirondack chairs to planters to swinging benches. With that said, the answer to the above question has very often been charred cedar, using a Japanese technique commonly known as shou sugi ban.
I’ve been resorting to this technique for several reasons: first, charred cedar is durable and long lasting through years of all kinds of weathering. Second, because the torching of the cedar, to varying degrees, produces a beautiful finish that accentuates the natural grain of the wood. So in doing this, we really are able to get the best of multiple worlds in having strong, outdoor wood, a lovely natural finish, as well as being at a reasonable price!
There really is something uniquely satisfying about having the torch in hand and watching the grain literally appear out of the woodwork like a ghost painting before your eyes. To date, we have done a wide range of projects using this enjoyable process, so check out the gallery to see the range of possibilities!
