bamboo

The bamboo used for “Raku-tei” is beautiful white bamboo that is roasted over a fire, soaked in oil, and then dried in direct sunlight. Since white bamboo is a natural bamboo material, it is inevitably subject to damage by insects such as longhorned beetles and bark beetles. Therefore, we apply an insecticide treatment in which a highly effective insecticide is pressurized to penetrate into the inside of the bamboo material. The pressure is applied using a vacuum-pressurized injector, which removes the air contained in the bamboo fibers, allowing the chemical to penetrate to every corner of the interior. The insecticide is a highly effective, colorless, odorless, and safe bamboo-specific agent. Bamboo is also a material that is prone to mold. Therefore, we also use a 24-hour flooding treatment with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.

　In particular, the cut surfaces and inner surfaces of the bamboo are the areas most prone to insect damage and fungal growth. Therefore, these areas are reinforced by applying a colorless, transparent liquid consisting mainly of a polyurethane prepolymer that easily penetrates bamboo at room temperature and pressure and hardens by reacting with the water and cellulose in the bamboo tissue. This liquid does not contain toluene, xylene, or formaldehyde, which are harmful to the human body. This paint is safe and harmless to the human body.