This tool teaches the ancient Japanese art of preserving wood with fire. It features a “Char Depth Simulator” that allows users to virtually burn a plank of cedar. As they increase the “Burn Intensity,” the wood transforms from raw timber to the highly durable “Gator Skin” texture.
It also calculates the Maintenance Trade-off: Showing that while a light char looks modern and brown, it requires re-oiling every 2 years, whereas a deep black char can last 50+ years without maintenance.
Shou Sugi Ban Simulator
Learn to char wood for 50-year durability.
1. Select Char Intensity
2. Performance Specs
The 4-Step Process
Burn
Use a roofing torch. Char until the surface cracks (Gator) or turns black (Suyaki).
Brush
Wire brush with the grain to remove soot and reveal texture. (Skip for Gator Skin).
Wash
Rinse with water to remove dust and stop the burning process completely.
Oil
Seal with Tung Oil or Linseed Oil to lock in the char and prevent stains.
Why It Works
1. Removing the Food Source: Bugs and fungus eat the soft cellulose (sugars) in wood. Fire burns off the cellulose and leaves behind carbon, which has zero nutritional value to pests. Termites hate it.
2. Hydrophobic Shield: The carbon layer naturally repels water. When sealed with oil, it creates a surface that sheds rain instantly, preventing the moisture uptake that causes warping and rot.