STEAMING
This is inherent to beech, although other species, such as oak also can be steamed.
The sawn wood goes into a closed room in which we put steam at 96° Celcius
for about 24 - 48 - 72 hours. The intention of doing this is to neutralize the
beech and to remove its internal tension.
The colour of the beech changes from rose to chocolate according to the time
spent in the oven.
This must take place within 24 hours after the sawing, if not the minerals in
the sap will dry and this could cause instable colours.
This steaming gives us a product specially designed for export towards Asia and
North-Africa. Steamed wood is very popular in these countries.
It is under no circumstances "drying of the wood", this happens after
it is steamed.