The cutting operation takes place in the sawmill. Here the old wooden beams are loaded on a belt and sawn into planks with a thickness of about 6 cm., Then selected on site to divide them according to their future use (floors, floors, coverings, tables, etc.).
The maturing phase follows. The wood is dried for forty-five days: it is necessary, in fact, to reduce its humidity, in order to avoid subsequent settling.
Wood is considered dry when its humidity is between 8% and 13%; if it exceeds this threshold, in fact, there is a danger that, once assembled, the boards may open or crack over time.
The next intervention consists in planing, which aims to make the surface of the table perfectly smooth, flat, removing the superfluous material with special tools.
We then move on to sanding, carried out with the use of sandpaper; the operation eliminates all the irregularities of the reclaimed wood, making the signs of wear, stains, scratches, paints disappear and making the boards ready for reuse.
These are jobs that require considerable manual dexterity, product knowledge and, last but not least, a good dose of patience! But they are also very rewarding phases, because they give the satisfaction of “bringing to light” the ancient wood, its essence, the natural and unmistakable veins that characterize and make the various types unique.
Finally, the grouting has the purpose of giving uniformity to the surface of the wood (in case there are holes left by un-nailing, cracks or chips).
Fundamental for a successful operation is, first of all, the cleaning of the surface to be treated, so that the putty adheres well and does not come off.
Stucco is a paste that is obtained using the sawdust of the wood itself; it is creamy, very malleable and is inserted in the “ruined” point of the table.
This too is a manual and delicate intervention which, like the previous one, requires competence and professionalism, not only because it must last over time but also because the result must be “seen and not seen”.
