- KOTUNAbout wood for making tableware and cutlery -
raw woodThe size of the plate that can be made from the diameter
cross-grain lumber
straight-grained wood
1,KOTUNWhat is the wood material for making the plate?
The width of wood for KOTUN plates is about 24cm, but a plate of this size needs to be 25cm wide. This is because we have to think about a slightly larger material because we are going to shave it off.
In other words, the diameter of the tree must be 25 cm or more in the log state. In order to make a thin plate for a plate from a single log, it is necessary to cut it many times with a saw, but the more you cut it, the more it will be lost by cutting. Therefore, if you want to use wood as carefully as possible, the theory is that large trees should be thickly lumbered.
A tree is a precious commodity that takes years to grow, so it would be a waste to cut a large log into smaller pieces. That's why it's important to use small logs for small parts and large logs for wide and thick parts.
With that in mind, the thin and wide materials used in KOTUN are very luxurious and cannot be made at any time. You can search for ingredients and make as many plates as you can get, but if you run out, you don't know when you'll be able to make the next one. Since it is such a situation, I would be happy if you could cooperate with me patiently.
2. What is the difference in wood grain?
The expression of the wood grain changes depending on how the material is taken.
Itame: Creates a wavy look.
Masame: Gives a straight and straight look.
As you can see in the first picture, the straight-grained material can only be taken in half the width of the flat-grained material. In other words, wide straight-grained timber can only be obtained from very large trees, and the amount is small. This makes the material more expensive and more expensive. Moreover, the fact that the wood grain runs through the wood reduces the possibility of warping or twisting. I think it's full of good points, but is the cross-grain lumber inferior to the straight-grain lumber? That's not true. It is true that cross-grain wood is highly likely to warp, but there is an expression of the wood grain that only appears in cross-grain. Compared to cross-grained wood, straight-grained wood is boring because of its straight grain. Both have their downsides, and both have their charms. That's why it's up to the person to choose where to feel the charm. There is no such thing as which one is better, so have fun choosing which one is more attractive to you!
Left: Cross-grained material Right: Straight-grained material
◯ Black cherry from America
Aging: The color is bright at first and gradually darkens. The color will darken considerably in about half a year, so the time for bright colors is shorter.
Color: The color varies depending on the raw wood, and the initial color varies considerably from individual to individual. Some are pale orange, almost yellow, and some are brownish from the start. There are some that are very bright orange, but they all change color over time, so I would like you to choose without worrying that the color will change in the end.
Fragrance: I would say that there is almost no fragrance from the beginning.
When you cut or scrape it, you can smell the faint scent of sakuramochi, which you can smell when pickling cherry leaves in salt.
Others: As a unique expression of cherry wood, there is a part called a gum spot where the sap has accumulated and turned black. This is a unique expression of cherry wood, so it's not a bad thing!
In addition, it may appear like a thin streak, but I will introduce it with a photo below, so please check it once.
○Hard Maple Made in America
Aging: A tree that is famous for its amber color due to its clean, white color.
It is said that the more beautiful and caramelized it is, the more it is cared for, the more it oxidizes the sugar content (maple syrup).
Color: It is a neat white color, but depending on the item, it is somewhat pinkish or yellowish.
Fragrance: It can be said that there is almost no fragrance from the beginning. There is also a smell when scraping, but personally I feel that it smells like grain w
Others: Maple is characterized by its white color, but you can see the color transfer because it is white. Cherry and walnut materials will also bleed, but maple is particularly conspicuous. Please note that the curry will turn yellow in some areas. Also, I have experience with strawberries turning red, so I have to be careful about what kind of food I serve. However, the red color of strawberries has naturally disappeared, and it is certain that the longer you use it, the more you will become familiar with it. It may not be necessary to be too nervous, but please use your own judgment w
Finally, another big point is that maple is easy to warp. Just be prepared! ! w
○ Walnut American product
Aging: At first, it is purplish brown, but it gradually becomes reddish and the color is a little lighter. Cherry and maple are darker in color, while walnut is lighter in color.
Color: The basic color is bluish-purple brown or close to brown. However, there are still differences in color among them, so the expression is infinitely different, such as color and depth, light or dark.
Fragrance: Walnut is quite fragrant. To be honest, when I first started using it, I could smell the walnut scent even while eating, so I'm worried about people who are worried about it. Of course, if you continue to use it for a while, the scent will fade, so it's up to you how you evaluate walnut in terms of its balance with its unique and elegant color.
The scent itself is a little sweet, but personally, I can only describe the walnut scent as walnut scent.
Other: Walnut has a white outer grain called sapwood. Some walnuts have a gradation at the border that transitions to the white of the sapwood. Some of them are slightly greenish, some have orange or red, some have gray, and the color changes are beautiful. Of course, there are simple wood without gradation, but it is a tree with a lot of individuality depending on the material.