Abash for a bath has several unique properties that distinguish it from other tree species. First of all, this concerns low thermal conductivity and density, as well as a beautiful wood pattern.
Thanks to this, finishing the steam room with an abasha shelf allows you to increase the quality of comfort. However, the rarity of the material and the relatively high price compared to European tree species make one think about the advisability of the purchase.
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African tree myths about abasha
An abasha sauna in the 20th century does not seem outlandish. There are many myths surrounding the material. Abacha is really picky about his tools. This means that there are subtleties of processing and this is true. It is said that abash can only be bought in elite stores. Now the material has become common, and the cost is also different. For abashi for baths, the price depends on the type. There is also a problem with counterfeits. The next myth is related to the disgusting smell.
Users are looking for a tree for a bath that does not heat up. In fact, the material has permissible temperature limits. The smell does appear, but it cannot be called disgusting.
Where is it best to use African oak in a bath?
It is clear that each type of wood has its own advantages and disadvantages, and abasha also has them. In addition to the high price, one has to take into account the too low hardness of the wood. It cannot be filled with nails or self-tapping screws; the bathhouse floor made of abasha is quickly pressed through by heavy furniture or a stove. Shelves, hooks, and hangers cannot be hung on the walls of the bathhouse, lined with African and especially Asian abacha.
In addition, when finishing a bathhouse, you must be careful when handling expensive cladding; any blow with a tool, hammer, or careless movement with a saw leaves deep cuts and dents.
According to reviews from owners of steam rooms for baths, the use of Asian or West African abacha is justified only in three cases:
- If a dry and very hot atmosphere is created in the steam room of the bath, using the shelves, especially the top row, becomes extremely difficult due to the hot surface. An abash is ideal for a sauna, less so for a Russian steam room, and there is absolutely no point in laying an abash on a shelf for a Turkish bath.
- Children often visit and play in the steam room and in the waiting room of the bathhouse. The soft wood of African oak does not cause splinters and cuts, even if you walk or run on it barefoot;
- In case the floors in the steam room regularly rot and fail. This happens if the ventilation of the bathhouse and steam room is not done correctly, the corner areas of the room do not dry out and do not get rid of moisture.
Often, abasha is used to make insets into the floor near the heater, and lay wooden grates on which you can freely step with bare feet. An interesting option is the use of abasha for lining the floor of the washing compartment of the bathhouse. Tile is considered slippery and unsafe, rubber mats are not aesthetically pleasing or hygienic, but an abasha grate will last in the shower for as long as you like and looks nice.
It is believed that in the steam room of a Russian bath, expensive wood is too quickly saturated with water, condensation, and the smell of birch brooms and herbs used in bath procedures. Abacha wood is indeed more active than any other wood in absorbing odors and substances. Therefore, with soap, modern detergents, and even more so exotic honey, chocolate, and mud skin care products, entry into the steam room of the bathhouse is strictly prohibited.
Abasha lining can be used in the steam room of any bathhouse, the only condition is that after completing the session, the lining is washed with clean water and a linen washcloth to remove dirt and traces of sweat.
What can be found on sale
If you visit a store and choose a thermal abash, it turns out that you can do different things with it:
— lining;
- shelves abash.
There are differences in properties and price, so it makes sense to analyze each option separately.
Lining
Abash wood for a bathhouse, the price can be confusing. But the lining in the store is cheaper than the shelves. Abash wood for baths is divided into classes. Each species has individual characteristics. If you buy a thermocouple for your home, it is important to check the degree of processing. Different grades entail responsibilities for further processing and preservation of the material.
For abash, the price may be inflated due to individual sizes. Standard widths are 80, 85, 90, 95. Abash boards are also made to order. It can be with or without a thorn.
shelves
When the price of the abash for a bath is known, it’s worth moving on to the properties. Shelves are always sold processed. This material is ideal for cladding. African abash has standard sizes (width 80, 90 mm). If we consider the custom option, it can be 40-70 mm. It’s easier to buy a long-length abash for a bath. The maximum to date is 4 meters.
Features of African oak
Growing conditions form a porous wood structure with no pronounced differences between the sapwood and the heartwood. This explains the special qualities of abasha lining.
- Moderate temperature on the surface of walls and shelves is maintained even in dry sauna conditions. Relaxing in the steam room becomes more enjoyable without the fear of getting burned by awkwardly turning or sitting down.
- Resistance to temperature changes and changes in humidity prevents cracking of the finish. Thanks to excellent moisture resistance and good air permeability of fine fibers, abashi lining does not swell or warp.
- Wood resists rot and mold due to its specific composition. And heat treatment significantly improves the performance qualities of lumber, allowing the use of abash without impregnation with protective compounds.
- The grade of triplochiton products is always high. The absence of knots with pronounced strength determines the external beauty and elastic strength of the boards. Uniform color, interesting fiber pattern, combination of light untreated wood with a darker thermo-basin expands the possibilities of decorating bath interiors.
- Despite its strength, lumber is easy to process. It does not crack, drills well and holds the fasteners during installation.
It is advisable to use expensive material in hot steam rooms and saunas. In the washing departments, it is more pleasant to decorate the walls with lining made of fragrant linden or cedar. But where temperatures rise to 100° C, African abash will reveal all its virtues.
Beware fake
The abashi board may not live up to expectations, since there is Asian imitation on the market. It is difficult to determine by external indicators, but there is a difference in smell. If you are considering an abash board for a bath, the price should start from 500 rubles. per linear meter. If the cost is less and more significant, it is definitely not triplochiton. Abash wood for a bath should be hard resin. This means that at high temperatures they retain their original properties. You can check with the seller for information regarding the fastening. If he says that a given sauna heater adheres remarkably well to nails, it’s a fake.
True connoisseurs of quality wood should be interested in silk wood. Only it is famous for its excellent characteristics, and over time it will not appear yellow.
Features of wood
Abash is excellent for baths, because it has low thermal conductivity, thanks to which the boards do not burn human skin even under the influence of high temperatures in a sauna or bathhouse. However, this breed also has many other useful properties, among them the following should be highlighted:
- resistance to mechanical stress;
- resistance to shrinkage;
- compatibility with wood of other types;
- color constancy even after long-term use.
When heated, the material will not release resin. It does not deform for a long time. The wood will remain dry even if the room humidity reaches 12%. The material slowly absorbs moisture from the ends, but if we compare it with aspen boards, the latter get wet quite actively.
Abash (this indicator is of great importance for a bath) has a high density, but is easy to process, so it is easy to manipulate. Screws go into wood well. You can hammer nails without fear of the material becoming cracked. It can be tinted. This type of wood can be used not only for cladding the internal surfaces of a sauna or bathhouse, but also for finishing a house. The material has low thermal conductivity, so the rooms will be cool in summer and warm in winter.
Abash for baths has many positive characteristics that generate appropriate reviews. For example, the maximum load on the material can reach 280 kg per square centimeter. At bends this value is 528 kg per square centimeter. Consumers also like the high density, which reaches 390 kg per cubic meter.
Making bathhouse shelves from abasha
When we managed to buy the abash shelves, all that remains is to consider the installation steps:
— marking;
- comparison of boards;
— cutting;
- installation.
Initially, markings are carried out to understand what material to use. It is better to keep abashi for baths in a ventilated area. When cleaning it, a smell is released, there is no point in inhaling everything. The next stage of installation is comparing the boards.
They must match in size and texture. Next comes cutting, and even a metal file is suitable for this. If you use a small tool, the high density of the material increases the risk of breaking it. When the cutting is done, all that remains is to install it with glue.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let us highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of abasha for a bath.
Advantages:
- low thermal conductivity;
- low density;
- low humidity;
- durability;
- absence of resins;
- contains essential oils with a pleasant smell;
- beautiful tree pattern;
- almost complete absence of knots;
- it is impossible to get a splinter;
- the wood does not burst or crack;
- does not deform;
- easily tolerates changes in humidity and temperature.
Flaws:
- susceptibility to fungal attack (additional treatment required);
- high cost in Europe;
- a large number of fakes;
- difficulty finding high-quality processed material;
- not suitable for allergy sufferers due to the high content of essential oils and other components.
The most important factor influencing the quality of the material is the primary processing of wood.
Wood is exported to Europe from West African countries (Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire), and in this region the technology and quality of labor are not the most advanced. Therefore, a tree may arrive to us with flaws that only a specialist can determine.
Processing Features
Abash is a unique material that requires careful handling during processing. High density immediately makes itself felt. Regular wood saws may not be effective. The second point is that African wood for a bathhouse is difficult to drill. Builders experimented with different drills, but the result was always the same. If you buy a shelf abash for your home, you must be prepared to be patient. Coarse grit sanding works well for finishing. Abacha wood is used with protection, but experts use antiseptics. Thus, the likelihood of fungus appearing is reduced to zero.
What is abash
This African oak has many other names - abachi, samba, ayous, abacha, etc. Belongs to the malvaceae family. The valuable wood of the abash tree for baths is durable, soft and resistant to shape. The material can range in color from pale yellow to off-white. The wood has an even, fine texture; there are barely noticeable stripes along the radial cuts.
This African bath tree grows in equatorial forests. Its height reaches 40 meters, and its trunk diameter is 3 meters. Since the crown on it is located only at the very top, there are no knots on the trunk. This circumstance makes the work of carpenters and joiners easier.
Despite the significant cost of wood, abash is very popular. This is an elite material that can be compared in value to mahogany, used in the decoration of apartments and houses. Abashi wood will cost much more than traditional wood species. The reason for the high cost is the need to transport the material from the African continent.
Where is wood used?
Many people are interested in the abash tree, where it grows and where it is used. There are such options
- furniture;
- musical instruments;
- figurines.
African abash is suitable for making furniture. These can be classic chairs or luxury sofas. If you look at the Abash tree photo, it has an interesting color. Musical instruments come out with great texture. On the market you can find not only guitars, but also professional violins.
Abash board for a bathhouse is a classic. Various decorative elements look good in any home. There is an opportunity to view figurines, elements on the wall or stream.
general characteristics
Now it has become easier to buy abash in Moscow, the characteristics of the material are known:
— compressive density over 200 N;
— shrinkage up to 12%;
— length up to 4 m;
— tensile strength up to 450 K;
— width from 60 mm.
Abash lining price differs from compression density. The second point is shrinkage, which depends on the variety. Next, tensile strength is important for the buyer. There are differences depending on the place of origin of the tree. Width and length are standard for all regions.
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Operation of interior items made of triplochiton
The main problem in operating a steam room finished with abasha clapboard is the appearance of stains on light wood. They occur after the evaporation of not very pure water from the surface. You should not try to prevent this phenomenon with the help of impregnations and oils - this will increase the thermal conductivity of the array.
Stains should be removed as they appear. This is done with water and a regular brush. Also, you should not leave the bathhouse closed after use; you must ventilate the premises. Remaining moisture can cause mold and mildew to form on the wood.
Despite some difficulties during installation and operation of the bathhouse, abashi wood will delight you with its unique properties and excellent appearance. And if you follow the rules for finishing work and carefully care for the wood, interior items and wall cladding made of African oak will ensure a long service life.
Properties of abasha wood
Abashi wood exhibits good density when the temperature rises. Resin content allows you to maintain considerable temperatures. Abash lining is durable. When working with the material, you will notice that the edges of the workpiece do not break off. If you buy abash, it is easy to process it with different tools. Since radial shrinkage is not significant, special attention is paid to the adhesive.
Properties of abasha wood:
— physical properties;
- humidity;
— thermal conductivity.
Not only physical properties, but also humidity should be considered. During construction, thermal conductivity is taken into account.
Physical properties
Abash wood demonstrates considerable thermal conductivity. This figure is more than 220 N per square meter. Abasha's heat capacity, on the contrary, is not significant. African oak is considered suitable for baths and saunas. Changes in humidity are not a problem. If you try to scratch it, it turns out that the marks are barely noticeable. The situation does not change when the temperature changes.
Humidity
Abazh refers to a variety of trees that has the following features:
- specific smell;
- without rotting;
- does not turn black;
- natural color.
The wood has a specific smell, but it is pleasant and somewhat reminiscent of spruce. According to statistics, the likelihood of fungus appearing is minimal. In a sauna or bathhouse, wood is used without signs of rotting.
It also does not turn black over time. And the same cannot be said about spruce or pine. Natural color gives an interesting texture.
Thermal conductivity
Abash has low thermal conductivity, below 20N. When people sit on shelves in a hot room, they do not feel the heat. Porosity allows wood to breathe. The service life is high, but there is a difference between grades.
Mechanical properties
Abazh has a dense structure. If you scratch it without strong pressure, barely noticeable stripes appear. Abash for baths is also suitable due to its low shrinkage. Other features:
— plasticity;
- strength;
- deformability.
Plasticity is assigned a rating of 5. This means that the wood does not lose its shape.
1 plasticity
Abasha has no problems with plasticity. Due to the high rating, the material is considered suitable for shelves. The thermobash can change shape only at temperatures above 150 degrees.
2 strength
Abash for a bathhouse has a bending strength of 100 N per mm2. It is possible to install long shelves. Abash for baths of different grades is suitable for installation with glue. Compressive strength is 45 N, and this figure is higher than that of oak.
Abasha also has rigidity in the horizontal position. The tensile strength is 80 N, and this is higher than that of pine or alder.
3 deformability
Low deformability is the main advantage of abasha. It is installed without shrinkage, so it is possible to accurately select the dimensions. Abash shelves have a radial swelling of less than 20N. The indicator is lower than that of pine and beech. Abash shelves also have insignificant longitudinal shrinkage - at the level of 10%.
general information
The first Europeans to notice the wood's unusual qualities were the Swedes and Finns after the Danes began colonizing the region of modern Ghana in the early 19th century. First of all, they were interested in the fact that the wood does not heat up even at high temperatures, which means it can be used in a steam room.
This rock has low thermal conductivity, so only the outer layer is heated. If a person touches a tree with his body, then it quickly cools down or heats up to its temperature.
The fact is that the abasha has many pores inside that contain air, which is why heat transfer occurs extremely slowly. This same fact is the reason that wood practically does not absorb moisture and quickly releases it.
For a long time, wood was used to decorate saunas only in Scandinavian countries. Abash became widely known in the 30s. 20th century, when musical instruments began to be mass-produced from it. Wood appeared in the post-Soviet space in the 90s. after the collapse of the USSR.
At the moment, this type of wood is considered noble and is used in baths and saunas for finishing steam rooms.
Interesting! Abash received the unofficial name in Europe African maple for the appearance of its leaves and African oak for its porosity.
Technical and operational capabilities of abasha wood
Thermoabash differs in both technical and operational capabilities. The material requires attention, since it is not possible to use it in its original form. Builders know that thermobash retains its properties at a certain temperature.
When installing elements, you need to go through preparation stages. Otherwise, the thermobag loses its strength.
Basic moments:
- drying;
- grade.
Drying is of great importance for wood. Manufacturers indicate the method and duration on the packaging. Grade is important for the buyer because there is a difference in price and quality.
1 drying
For thermobash, drying is considered important. It is held outdoors. Manufacturers advise laying out the prepared boards and not touching them for a day. African oak can also be stored on racks. If this is not possible, ordinary wooden supports will do. that processing abacha did not cause difficulties, endurance is important. The material is not ready yet until the next day. Color may change slightly during this period. Important! Abashi wood shrinks slightly within 24 hours. Therefore, measurements are taken again before work.
2nd grade
African abash comes in different varieties:
- maple;
- pine
Abash maple lining lasts longer during drying. It has a light shade and the parameters are too high in density. Abash oak lining is also suitable for a sauna. However, it is darker in coloring. If you look at the characteristics, the density is underestimated, but not critically.
If you buy abash mallow, you can appreciate the play of light and shadow. The material looks different from different angles.
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Is the smell of abasha suitable for a bath?
One of the reasons why African oak wood has not yet replaced linden is the unusual smell of fresh wood, not very pleasant and quite persistent. Traditional methods of struggle - warming up and frying the steam room before putting the bathhouse into operation - help little.
The unpleasant smell disappears after 4-5 weeks of using the steam room, and until this point you have to use blocks of freshly sawn cedar laid next to the heater. The smell of cedar removes and masks abacha fumes. Sometimes, fresh wood is treated with linseed oil, which helps protect the wood from stains and reduces the intensity of the odor.
If a radical solution is required, then heat-treated material can be used. The thresholds and corner slats of the bathhouse shelves are made from hardened Asian abacha, handles and parts of the cladding located in close proximity to the heater and ventilation system are cut out. And although African oak wood is not prone to rotting and warping, heat treatment can increase the durability and service life of the cladding up to 20 years.
Features of finishing work using abasha lining
If we consider abashi wood, conventional fasteners are not suitable for it. Experts recommend glue that is suitable specifically for wood. The abashi board is cleaned beforehand. It is important to carefully process the edges with a fine grain tape. Abash wood for baths is also suitable for making decorative elements. Glue can be applied in large quantities. Many people practice gluing in several layers. You will be able to surprise your friends with an interesting smell. Only new things smell like that. Even if there are small inserts in the sauna, they will create a good aroma.
Abash for baths review features installation technology and reviews
Abash wood is mounted on the base. The frame can be made of pine or beech. Many people consider oak. Errors:
- use of metal;
- use of plastic.
Such options are not suitable for technology. In this case, universal glue is used. Many rubber-based products can affect the properties of the board. African bath wood has an excellent combination with beech and pine. The base can be flat or multi-layered. The main rule is not to use metal fasteners. Abashi for baths is also combined with cedar. This performance will appeal to people who want to invest as much as possible to get a good result.
Abasha varieties for finishing baths
Today, under the term “abash”, a special type of finishing wood with very interesting properties, specific texture and color is offered on the materials market. Currently, workshops and salons offer three options for valuable wood for cladding a steam bath:
- Board made of abacha or otherwise African oak, growing in the tropical massifs of West Africa, most often Nigeria and Cameroon.
- Lining made from Central Asian abashi, a relative of African wood, but having a looser structure and therefore sold at a lower price;
- Thermal board made of African and Asian wood, heat-treated in a chamber. As a result of calcination, the material acquires a red-brown color, becomes more durable, wear resistance increases, and resistance to pathogenic microflora improves.
Real abash has an inexpressive texture, the pattern of the fibers is practically not visible on the surface, so the material can be cut and sawed in any direction, there will be no “striations” in the finish of larch, spruce or pine. The color of African abasha wood can vary from almost white to cream. Asian wood is the lightest, African wood has a richer color.
Lining installation technology
We are considering a medium-sized sauna, and here the installation process begins with simple steps:
— marking;
- fitting;
— cleaning;
- sizing;
- fixation.
Simple installation assumes that the glue will be applied in one layer. The abasha option will not work if the installation is carried out on an uncleaned surface. For example, a cut was made and debris remained.
At first the material does not heat up and no problems are found. The more changes in temperature, the faster the joint weakens. Thus, the sizing is done again.
Since the material is most often considered for a bathhouse shelf, it is worth studying the instructions in more detail:
- measurements of the base;
- cutout of the board;
— preparation of the base;
- gluing and fixing.
It all starts with measurements. You need to create a shelf for the board so that it fits there perfectly. Support can be at two or three points. For example, if the length of the board is more than 1 meter, it is worth placing a support in the center.
First of all, the master makes the frame. As mentioned earlier, the sides can be made of other wood. It is important to make internal supports not from abasha. They can be fixed with screws. Next, all that remains is to prepare the shelf.
Marking the length and width may not be enough. To make the shelf look its best, it is important to choose the perfect height. Some people deliberately make it so that the wood protrudes from above. However, compatibility with other materials is taken into account here.
At worst, from the outside it will look like a marriage. For example, the main material is light, and then the dark abash protrudes from above. Such features are striking. There is even a board that fits well on the shelf, it’s worth fixing it. Professional glue is suitable for this:
- epoxy;
- heat-resistant;
- carpenter.
The first option is the most economical. Epoxy glue is chosen to simply grip the board. When the temperature rises, it does not lose its properties. It is better to apply it with one ball.
Next in popularity is the heat-resistant option. The glue is suitable for fixing lining of any size. Unlike the epoxy type, it makes sense to apply the product several times. The store features domestic manufacturers. The price for a liter package starts from 450 rubles. Foreign glue costs about 500 rubles.
If you choose wood glue, you need to be prepared for trouble. Fixing the base to such material leads to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Each time it is heated, fumes are released. When a person wants to redo it, he will have to sand the old layer.
Other options for craftsmen:
- casein;
- post-shaped;
- polyurethane.
You should start with casein glue. It is common for finishing work and is suitable for baths and saunas. When heated, no harmful substances are released, but the cost is higher than the next type. Paste glue can be sold in small tubes.
The advantage is that it does not require a large quantity to install the board. Builders distribute one tube evenly and lay the board. Some people advise working with dots, but this is a mistake.
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Abash for shelves - wood from Africa
There probably isn’t a bathhouse lover who hasn’t at least heard about the African miracle tree abash.
So much has been said about its extraordinary properties, it has been shown that for many it has eclipsed our native trees - linden, alder and aspen. Why is it so good and is it really endowed with the extraordinary characteristics that exotic sellers attribute to it?
In order to better understand, let's study this issue a little from a botany point of view.
Let's get acquainted: African maple
Its Latin name, triplochiton hard resin, certainly does not sound as attractive as the melodious names given by the local population - samba, ajos or abacha, but it reflects the peculiarity of the wood. Another name for the tree is “African maple”, given for the similarity of long-petioled leaves with maple leaves. The leaf blade is equipped with 5–7 lobes and reaches up to 20 cm in length and width. Abasha greens are rich in sugars, proteins, β-carotene, riboflavin and ascorbic acid. In the national cuisine of Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, the leaves are served with boiled vegetables and sauces.
The territory of the hot continent where this tree is found can be easily found on the map. The range extends along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea - from Gambia in the west to Gabon in Central Africa, and is also found in its more southern regions.
The tall, straight trunk of the abasha is a woodworker's dream! Disc-shaped roots extend to approximately a height of 4–6 m; they help the giant to withstand the onslaught of the “green ocean” of the jungle. From a wide base, a smooth trunk with a diameter of up to 1.5–2.1 m rises up 30–35 m.
1
The wood of the tree is creamy white to light straw in color, with little difference between sapwood and heartwood. Density - from 320 to 490 kg/m3 (at a humidity of 12%). The wood dries quickly and easily, only when laying thick logs you need to ensure good air circulation. After drying, the abash remains resistant to moisture during indoor use.
The light, light wood of alstonia and cottonwood is reminiscent of abacha. They are cheaper and do not have the necessary properties, so they can be passed off as real valuable wood
Irreplaceable abash
Since the 1960s, the countries of Western and Central Africa have been increasing the extraction and export of valuable wood (red and ebony trees, abacha). For the latter, a minimum cutting diameter is established, for example, in Cameroon - 80 cm, in Côte d'Ivoire - 60 cm. The species is considered vulnerable in Ghana, here the minimum for logging is 90 cm.
For West and Central African countries, the export of abachi wood remains a profitable industry. Loggers try to remove the logs from the forest and dry them as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the fresh abacha sapwood under the scales of bark and cambium will turn blue and become covered with black spots. Before drying, the pale yellow core of the tree and the entire trunk emit an unpleasant odor, which gradually disappears as it dries.
Anyone who has been even slightly interested in this type of building material knows the story, or rather the legend, about why this previously little-known tree suddenly became so popular. In short, it’s as if one day they accidentally left a box made of abasha in a Finnish sauna and noticed that the wood, surprisingly, practically did not heat up.
But few people know the fact that in the early 1980s, specialists from one of the Munich construction companies were looking for the possibility of replacing the wood of this tropical tree. Sauna benches at that time were made almost exclusively from African abasha, which has low thermal conductivity and other valuable properties.
The pedantic Germans tested dozens of hardwoods and conifers: they cut them, dried them, and heated them. Poplar wood is suitable, but the trunks growing along the roads absorb particles of salt and other pollutants. For Europeans who are sensitive to the environment and health, this option was not suitable. The most that the Munich city council has achieved is a recommendation not to use tropical wood in municipal buildings in order to preserve the flora of the African jungle.
In our country, such concerns are unlikely to seriously touch anyone, and we don’t even need to look for anything, forest reserves of linden, aspen and alder are still sufficient. But despite this, traditional materials for building shelves in steam rooms have been increasingly replaced in recent years with wood from Africa.
2
Why is he so good?
- Its first and most important advantage is, as mentioned above, its extremely low heating ability, which is why abashi has become widespread as an interesting building material. Fans of bath procedures note that at sufficiently high temperatures, the steps of the shelves heat up to a lesser extent than other types of wood. This is especially noticeable in steam rooms, where the shelves are made of different types of wood. For example, it is very common to alternate lighter abashi boards with darker alder or Canadian pine.
Sometimes you can come across statements that African wood does not have such a feature at all and heats up to the same extent as other species. Here we can unequivocally say that these are not Abacha.
Real abashi comes exclusively from the African continent; unlike the counterfeit, it is not gray, but yellowish in color and has a beautiful wood structure pattern
- Another advantage is its high grade. The characteristics of wood are such that products made from it are smooth, without defects or knots, and are characterized by uniform texture and color, which together make them very beautiful.
- Coming from a hot and humid climate, it tolerates temperature changes well, does not crack, warp or rot, while at the same time having good hardness and elasticity.
- Although Abash is sometimes mistakenly called African oak, its wood, which has a porous structure, is easy to process, so no difficulties arise when finishing the steam room.
This material also has its drawbacks; in addition to its high cost, it is quite difficult to maintain. Many people note that without covering it with protective oils, streaks quickly appear on it. Porous wood gradually becomes dirty, which requires careful handling and periodic renewal of the surface layer.
For this reason, the advisability of using abashi in bathhouses where procedures with a broom are practiced is not so obvious, especially since steam rooms with the regime of a real Russian bathhouse with high humidity and low temperature do not require special wood for shelves.
Here our native linden will prove itself much better and, most importantly, more useful - the aroma from it is simply indescribable.
Abashi will be in place in sauna-type steam rooms, where high temperatures of up to 100 degrees C are practiced; there will be no flowing sweat to spoil the appearance of the shelf (it simply won’t have time) and will allow you to sit comfortably without fear of getting burned.
Taking into account the above points and if you have no one to surprise with the high cost of finishing a steam room, you can completely get by with materials that have been proven over centuries.
Well, in conclusion, we will give an approximate difference in cost.
Shelves:
From abashi, grade E 27x90mm - from 200 rubles per linear meter. From linden, grade E - 27x90mm - from 160 rubles per line/m From aspen, grade E - 27x90mm - from 140 rubles per line/m
Using nails during installation
People in Moscow often work with wood and know well that nails are not suitable for installation. The density of the material pushes out iron and the matter does not depend only on high temperature. The porosity of the wood also plays a role here.
It is not recommended to use screws yet. Because of them, the risk of cracks appearing on the surface increases. Without metal fasteners, the joints will also be smooth. The main thing is to think through the design and buy high quality shelves. Expert advice will save users from the need for rework.
Somewhere in hot Africa, in its central part
This is how V. Vysotsky’s famous song about a giraffe and a parrot begins. But somewhere in the same place, next to the heroes of the song of the legendary Soviet bard, our hero, the famous African maple, grows, although in reality it is not a maple at all.
Its scientific Latin name is hard-resin triplochiton, but you can’t even pronounce it right away. Experts in the field of woody exotic bathhouses prefer to use more euphonious names: abacha, ayos, samba. The tree itself belongs to the large and very diverse family of malvaceae, and the association with maple arose due to the similarity of the leaf blade of the African maple with the European maple. By the way, the young foliage itself is very rich in vitamins and microelements. Local shepherds do not hesitate to use it along with unleavened flour cakes during long journeys to drive livestock. It seems to maintain strength well and increase endurance, and also sharpens vision and hearing.
The wood itself, or rather the tree trunk, is amazing, a true timber merchant's dream. No knots, curvatures, hollowness or delamination. The height of an adult tree reaches 35 meters, and the average thickness of the trunk is 1.7 m. I don’t want to drink. In fact, they sawed until recently, which significantly reduced the strategic reserves of commercial wood. Despite the fact that the export of abacha constitutes a significant source of income for a number of Central African countries, from Gambia to the Ivory Coast, the governments of most countries in the region where this noble tree grows have introduced restrictions on timber harvesting. Thus, round timber can be of industrial importance if its diameter, in some cases, is not less than 600 mm, and countries such as Ghana have imposed a moratorium on cutting down trees with a trunk diameter of less than 900 mm.
Pros and cons of abash lining for a bath
If we consider the lining, it has the following advantages:
- maintains high temperatures;
— the ability to combine with other wood;
- good strength;
- wood color.
High temperatures come first, so the material is suitable for a bath. Unlike pine or beech, wood can be combined with different substrates. Some people like spruce, others choose something from conifers.
High strength indicates the possibility of using long shelves. The color of the wood can be selected individually. If the main material is beech, you can use light shades.
Flaws:
— price;
- complexity of installation.
The growing importance of price in the market stops people. Indeed, you can consider other materials for a bathhouse. There are differences in properties, but the likelihood of quick completion of the work increases. It also opens up additional processing and installation options.
General information and features of abashi
When selecting boards, it is worth remembering that this is a rare type of wood. Previously, the store only offered the material in certain sizes. Now new varieties are appearing, and users are at a loss.
As before, a person must evaluate the main indicators. If the density and thermal conductivity meet the standards, such material can be used for construction. It happens that even experts are misled. Counterfeits are captivating with their similar appearance, but upon first heating everything falls into place.
Speaking about the main properties, it is worth paying attention to cleaning. Regular detergents are not suitable for this. Aggressive substances destroy the structure. Many people are recommended to use laundry soap.
Lumber has certain characteristics associated with acids. If you consider a sulfur-based substance, traces appear on the surface of the wood. Sometimes they form serious scars that will be difficult to remove. To put everything in its place for hard resin material, the following is considered:
- advantages;
- flaws.
Builders have hope that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Advantages
Bathhouse with abash has the following advantages:
- resistance to fungus;
- strength;
- interesting appearance.
Abashi's strength is at a high level. Even if the design is not very well thought out, the board can withstand a large company. The second point is the protective properties. It is clear that different forces act on the wood in the bathtub.
High humidity makes itself felt, as does high temperature. Fortunately, wood copes with such difficulties and retains its properties for years. Gluing will not harm if the material is chosen correctly. This means that products are selected exclusively for wood.
Flaws
Material that costs more than 500 rubles. per meter, raises a lot of questions for many. Users bypass it and choose cheaper types of wood. The price of varieties may differ, but consumers do not understand this.
Most often, sellers impose the most expensive option. The second point is related to installation. The first time the material begins to heat up, a slight shrinkage occurs. If errors are made during installation, the design will have to be redone.
Plus, the board must be attached with glue. Thus, it is not suitable for walls or ceilings. Lining is used for shelves. Some people don’t know what plan to do them with. The worst thing is that the price of the material will only increase.
In the near future, users are increasingly bypassing it. You can buy oak or spruce in large quantities. As for appearance, other wood is not much inferior in beauty. Plus, it doesn't have a specific smell.
FAQ
Let's look at some of the most common questions regarding abasha for a bath.
How to distinguish an abash from a fake?
This can only be done by a specialist who has already worked with this tree. Therefore, purchases should be made only from well-known companies that have been operating in the market for a long time.
How long will an abash last in a steam room?
With proper care, the tree will last at least 40-50 years.
How does this tree tolerate domestic fungi and mold?
This is the tree's weak spot. With the wrong combination of tree species and improper care, the fungus can destroy the abash. It should be combined with fungus-resistant species or treated well with various impregnations to increase resistance.
Is it possible to find a cheap abash?
The market is full of fakes. Everyone has long heard about the unique properties of wood, which is actively used by scammers. Do not be fooled by the temptingly low price, as it is most likely a fake. There cannot be a cheap abasha for a bath in Europe.
Is there any harm from the tree?
Over 200 years of operation, no harm to the human body has been observed. In rare cases, an individual allergic reaction of the body to one of the components in wood is possible. Typically these are essential oils.
Is the price of abash worth the candle?
Extra shelves are sold on the market from 2 meters. Consumers look at the variety, and then pay attention to the cost. The price difference can be more than 50%. Starting price - 535 rubles per m.p. Extra wooden blanks are sold in lengths of 1.8 meters. They already cost 600 rubles. In Africa, Extra 2.2 meters is offered. Starting price from 620 rubles. Extra 2.8 meters is the most expensive. In terms of cost, it even outperforms mahogany. Manufacturers ask 700 rubles for one linear meter.
