Methods of Enhancing Wood and Bamboo Products

Setyembre 02, 2018

LESSON 3 Importance and Methods of Enhancing/Decorating Bamboo, Wood Products

Lesson Objectives:
1. Discuss the importance and methods of enhancing/decorating bamboo and wood products.
2. Demonstrate creativity and innovativeness in enhancing /decorating bamboo and wood products
3. Performs necessary skill in enhancing/ decorating finished products

LET’S BE INFORMED

Industrial Arts play an important role in our economy. Many occupations and businesses
belong to this area. Thousands are employed in different industrial works, both in rural and urban
areas
This lesson will acquaint you with different products made of bamboo and wood that are
designed, manufactured, and are sold both here and abroad. It will also discuss ways by which
one can enhance finished products made of these materials.

3.1 Importance of enhancing/decorating bamboo and wood products

1. Finished products tend to be more saleable to customers when enhanced and decorated.
2. Enhanced and decorated finished products help maintain their durability to harsh elements.
3. Finished products that are enhanced or decorated beautify the product itself.

3.1.1 Methods of enhancing/decorating bamboo and wood products

Woodcraft and bamboo craft can be enhanced using a variety of methods and techniques. These
include:

 Woodturning is a process of using a lathe to make various forms and shapes of wood.

 Hand carving is considered a woodcraft in which a sharp object is used to create designs on the
wood. Various textures and surfaces can be created using this technique. Tools such as chip
carving knife, gouges, and chisels are used.

 Pyrography is considered an art using a fire or heat to decorate wood or leather.

 Flocking technique lines the interior of drawers and boxers with a soft velvety finish.

 Inlaying combines several techniques that involve inserting decorative pieces in to a base object
to incorporate new designs on the original product.
 Gilding is considered as a decorative technique in which powder is applied on wood or other
materials to give a thin coating of gold. Methods of this technique include glueing, chemical
gilding, and electroplating.

 Staining is used to color wood to give an illusion of texture. This may come in two varieties.
First, pigment-based stain will color large pores of the wood, while dye-based stain color small
pores of the wood.

 Painting is considered the simplest way of decorating wood since there is a variety of colors that
you can choose from. One may also add a lacquer finish to make it more shiny and glossy.

Types of Metal Finishing

Metal finishing is used to treat the exterior of a metal product by applying a thin complementary
layer to its surface. There are numerous types of metal finishing processes that can be used for a
variety of purposes. In this guide, we will review the major finishing methods, as well as
applications and considerations for choosing a metal finishing process. Some of the general
advantages of applying this finishing treatment to a metal product include:

 Increased durability
 Improved decorative appeal
 Enhanced electrical conductivity
 Higher electrical resistance
 Higher chemical resistance
 Higher tarnish resistance
 Potential for vulcanization

Types of Metal Finishing

Below are a few of the types of finishes available:

 Metal Plating
 Brushed Metal
 Buff Polishing
 Metal Grinding
 Metal Vibratory Finishing
 Sand Blasting
 Powder Coating
 Hot Blackening

Keep reading for more information about each metal surface finish.
Metal Plating

Metal plating machines use a chemical bath to coat or alter the surface of a substrate with a thin
layer of metal, such as nickel or PTFE. The electroplating method generates an electric current to
coat the substrate, while electroless plating employs an autocatalytic process in which the
substrate catalyzes the reaction.
Metal plating provides a number of advantages as a finishing process. It can improve a product’s
durability, corrosion resistance, surface friction, and exterior appearance. It is also a useful
option for coating other metals. In high-volume production runs, a barrel-finishing machine is a
fast and efficient plating solution. However, plating machines are generally not suited for
smoothing out surface defects.

Brushed Metal

Unlike plating, brushed metal finishing is an effective method for removing surface
imperfections. These finishing machines create a uniform, parallel grain surface texture to
smooth out a product’s exterior. An abrasive belt or wire brush is usually employed to achieve
this effect. In addition, the singular direction of the belt or brush can create slightly rounded
edges perpendicular to the grain.

Buff Polishing

If your project requires a smooth, non-textured finish, then a buff polishing machine may be your
answer. This machine uses a cloth wheel to buff the product’s surface, resulting in a high, glossy
sheen. The process is often used for decorative products that benefit from luster and smoothness.
Buff polishing machines tend to round out a product’s edges, and due to the cloth wheel’s range
limits, the process is less effective for applications requiring intricate, fragile, or recessed
features.

Metal Grinding

Grinding machines use friction, attrition and/or compression to smooth out a metal product’s
surface. There are several types of grinding machines designed to deliver different levels of finite
smoothness. For example, a ball-grinding mill is an excellent fine grinder for cement products,
but may not work for more extensive smoothing projects.
Most metal grinding machines consist of a substrate within a rotating drum. Rod mills are used
to make metal rods, while semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills and autogenous grinding mills
smooth copper, gold, platinum, and silver.

Metal Vibratory Finishing

Vibratory finishing machines are used to deburr products and remove sharp edges. They position
material inside a drum filled with abrasive pellets and a substrate, then apply tumbling vibration
to create a uniform random texture. The machine’s cycle speed and magnitude of vibration are
usually variable, allowing effective treatment for a range of small- to large-sized parts.
Sand Blasting

Sand-blasting machines are typically employed in projects requiring a uniform matte texture.
The process (also known as beadblasting) forces sand, steel shots, metal pellets or other
abrasives into a substrate at high speed. This results in a smooth, clean product texture,
particularly in soft metals.

Powder Coating

Powder coating applies a decorative finish that is similar to paint, but with greater durability. The
process involves melting dry plastic powder onto the metal to produce a textured, matte, or
glossy coating. A textured powder-coating machine is also highly effective in removing surface
defects.

Hot Blackening

Hot blackening machines spread a thin layer of black oxide onto a product’s surface to create a
matte black finish with high abrasion resistance. It is a high-temperature hot finishing process in
which the product is inserted into a series of tanks containing cleaners, caustics, and coolants.
Hot blackening is most commonly used in the production of automotive parts, tools, and
firearms.

Choosing a Metal Finishing Process

There are a few considerations that can help you narrow your choices in selecting a metal
finishing technique suitable for your project. Some helpful things to keep in mind are:

 Production speed: How quickly does the technique apply finish to the product?
 Cost-effectiveness: Certain finishing machines (such as vibratory tumblers) can be expensive,
but may compensate for their price by delivering faster cycle rates
 Metal hardness: harder metals usually require more intense finishing techniques, like grinding,
or may need tougher abrasives than those used on softer materials
 Potential for vulcanization.