What are the benefits of artificial trees?
Unlike natural ones, artificial ones do not require any care: they do not need to be watered, their roots will not rot, their leaves will not fall off, they do not need light, and they are not harmful to allergy sufferers.
Such “eternal companions” decorate the work environment and add ease to the atmosphere.
The most popular tree species
Among artificial trees, the most expressive and most often used in the interior are imitations of such species as pine, sequoia, palm, bamboo, sakura, oak with acorns, hazel, etc. They have bright features and are recognizable in any setting.
Also, artificial ficus and orchids can pass for trees - they are tall and impressive in size, have clearly defined stems and large leaves.
Rowan and rose hips are also bright representatives of the flora, which are easy to realize in artificial form.
Production of artificial trees for the interior
Today, the production of artificial trees has been put on stream. The following trees are produced on an industrial scale:
- made of polyurethane foam,
- made of polymer concrete,
- made of fiberglass,
- artificial stone
- and other modern materials;
- from parts of natural origin - bark, roots, branches, vines, vines, etc.
The materials are strong enough, so trees can be created large without fear for their safety or risk of injury.
Design
Space distribution
The process of manufacturing a kitchen set begins with its design. First of all, it is necessary to draw up a detailed diagram of the room: the height and width of the walls, window sills and partitions.
The location of various communications should also be noted:
It is necessary to decide on the geometry of the future kitchen - it can be “L” shaped, linear or “U” shaped. Next, you should select the approximate location of the five main work areas:
- Hob - the place where the gas or electric stove for cooking will be located;
- The work table is the area where all basic manipulations with food will take place;
- An area intended for storing dishes and other kitchen utensils;
- Washing;
- A place to store food - most often this function is performed by a refrigerator;
Ideally, the location of the above zones should take into account certain communication and temperature parameters:
- Sink, washing machine and dishwasher should be located close to sewer pipes and water supply;
- The refrigerator should not be located next to the hob;
Kit drawing
Computer model of a kitchen
Now, after you have determined how much space you have and what your future kitchen should look like in general terms, all that remains is to coordinate the design of the furniture set with the data received. You can do this using paper and pencil or a special computer program.
In this case, your imagination is practically unlimited, but you should take into account some important points:
- The height of the horizontal surfaces of all furniture components - countertops, washing and cooking areas, etc. Despite the existence of certain standards, to determine the height of some parts of a kitchen set - first of all, this parameter is determined based on the height of the housewife;
- The dimensions of kitchen appliances, regardless of whether they are built-in or not - in both cases they need a separate place for them;
- Fittings: the presence of mirrors or glass in the exterior design, the design of guides, etc.;
- The texture of the material used;
- Availability of backlight;
Note! A detailed drawing of all components is easiest to do using computer programs specially designed for this - in them, all the necessary calculations are performed automatically, which will greatly facilitate your task.
Making an artificial tree with your own hands
Tiny artificial trees can be made from wire and beads. Such wicker things are called “trees of happiness.” They do not have strict manufacturing rules and are built on pure improvisation.
The leaves or paws, imitating conifers, are made of beads, the trunk is made of wire wrapped in plain threads.
For greater stability, a flat stone is attached below or the trunk is inserted into a miniature container. You can also make a “stump” from plasticine or clay. Even a child can make such a tree.
To make a larger artificial tree, you can use:
- paper,
- clay mold mass,
- metal wire,
- PVA glue,
- additional accessories.
Features of the technological process and equipment for the production of MDF
The production technology is similar to the manufacturing process of chipboard and fiberboard, although these two materials are noticeably inferior to MDF in strength.
The production of such slabs began in the United States in the mid-60s of the 20th century. Of course, the production process was completely different back then. Later, Sweden slightly modified the American technology, and this material began to gain popularity. By the beginning of the 21st century, the annual production volume amounted to 20 million cubic meters. The main producer today is China.
MDF production stages
The MDF production process can be divided into five stages.
Stage 1 – preparation of raw materials. To make MDF in industrial wood production, ordinary round logs of any type of wood are used. The bark is removed from them using a debarking machine. Then, using chippers, the logs are crushed into technical chips. To remove foreign impurities (dirt, sand) from the chips, they are washed. Before the next stage, the wood chips are heated using steam.
MDF production line
Stage 2 – fiber preparation. Manufacturing equipment called a refiner (or defibrator) grinds steamed wood chips into fibrous wood pulp. It releases a substance called lignin, which binds fibers together. Additionally, urea-formaldehyde resins are used as a binder. Then the air is removed from the mass.
Stage 3 – molding and primary pressing. On the forming machine, the mass is compressed into a carpet. After this, it is sent to preliminary press. This stage is needed to remove air bubbles. If this is not done, the slab will crumble.
Stage 4 – pressing. The material in the form of a belt enters the main press. This stage can be divided into three stages. At the first stage, at a temperature of 200 to 230 °C and a pressure of up to 350 MPa, the surface of the slab is formed. In the second stage, the temperature drops to 190–210 °C and the pressure to 40–120 MPa. The central part is warming up. At the third stage, thickness calibration occurs. Heating stops, and the pressure varies from 60 to 150 MPa and depends on the desired thickness. The strip is then cut into slabs and cooled.
Stage 5 – grinding. This step is necessary to adjust the thickness and eliminate surface defects.
If necessary, the slabs are decorated decoratively.
Where are artificial trees used?
In addition to home life and country house arrangement, artificial trees are an integral accessory of public buildings and public places.
The lobbies of hotels, restaurants, spacious administration and office premises cannot do without green trees that imitate real ones.
Large artificial trees are used to decorate exhibition halls, galleries, and conference rooms. They look great as decorations for performances.
Shopping and entertainment centers, the halls of water parks and concert halls, cafes with terrace tables, etc. are unthinkable without artificial trees.
Artificial tree combinations
Artificial trees for the interior are ideally combined with water cascades and fountains.
Handmade stones and rocks are a great complement to man-made trees. They look great as part of an alpine slide or as stand-alone accessories.
INSTALLATION OF PANELS
The connecting “omega profile”, complete with a plug, is used to connect the panels to each other on a straight section of the wall and fix them on the supporting frame or directly on the wall itself. "L-profile" is used for internal corners, and also as a starting profile (from the door or from the floor). "F-profile" is used for external corners.
The panels are mounted either from doors and windows, or starting from the corner. An El profile is installed in the corner, which plays the role of an internal or starting corner, and screwed in with a self-tapping screw until it stops. Non-combustible panels are inserted into the mounted profile and then the two panels are pressed between each other with an omega profile
The panels are installed using an aluminum decorative profile, to the guide profile, with self-tapping screws.
Bonsai as art
Artificial house trees are popular in Japan. Bonsai - the art of growing trees - today takes such forms.
Imitation trees can also be “grown.” At the same time, the same canons are observed as in the real ones, and styles are observed (“broom”, “creeping forest”, “cascade”, etc.).
Such a miniature tree may include part of an ornate driftwood or twig. Coffee beans will imitate pebbles, snow is made from polystyrene foam or cotton wool, salt or white sequins.
Artificial bonsai has become a popular trade item today. It is convenient because it fits even in small rooms and is used to decorate open shelves or corners.
Preparing the template
When you have ready-made material, you can begin to create the ax itself. To do this, they think over and make a sketch of the handle, thanks to which the manufacturing process of the product in question is facilitated. The shape of the ax is determined by the type of tool. If a handle is required for a light ax weighing 0.8-1 kg, then its length is 0.4-0.6 m. The length of heavier ones can reach 0.6-0.9 m. Axes are classified according to their purpose:
Based on the purpose of the tool, the length of the ax will depend. When making it, you should adhere to the following rules:
- to prevent the ax handle from slipping while working with an axe, the tail should be slightly wider than the handle itself;
- the cleaver's ax handle is made 0.75-0.95 m long, while for a carpenter's ax it is 0.5 m long;
- 10 cm is added to the length of the handle for allowance. This part is cut off after attaching the butt.
The future handle of the desired shape and size is drawn on cardboard, after which the image is transferred to wood and cut out with carpentry tools.
Value comfort and save!
Inexpensive artificial wood allows you to simultaneously decorate your interior artistically without spending a ton of money. It will relieve tension and give your eyes rest if you work at your home computer for a long time. It is useful in combination with other indoor plants.
You can save not only your money, but also time. Artificial flowers do not require any maintenance.
The condition of natural ones must be constantly monitored; they require fertilizers and replantings. All this distracts from the main work, while labor productivity costs money.
A winter garden made of artificial trees does not need to be updated every season. It will transform the austere office environment and make the meeting room more comfortable.
You should not think that they are empty and dead - associative memory itself will take care of the positive perception of trees, even if they are not made of wood.
Types of MDF
The main types of MDF include:
- painted;
- laminated;
- veneered
Although their production is more expensive than boards without decorative finishing, the cost of production still remains lower than that of wood, and MDF is superior in its properties to both it and chipboard.
Painted MDF
Coloring occurs using enamel. Depending on what enamel was used, painted MDF can be:
- matte;
- semi-matte;
- semi-gloss;
- glossy with different textures.
Recommendations for painting MDF
The production process of such MDF boards begins with a primer using a spray gun. This is necessary for degumming and increasing moisture resistance. The material is dried and primed again to level the surface. The last step is applying the enamel.
This type is most often used for finishing kitchen and commercial equipment, as well as individual parts of combined chipboard furniture. In addition, it is very popular among designers, as it allows you to easily change the interior of any room.
Laminated MDF
The production method of this type is to cover the material with a thin film of PVC, melamine or paper impregnated with a special resin. The film is glued to the surface using a high-pressure press. To increase wear resistance, not one, but several layers of laminate are applied.
Laminated MDF
The laminated board not only looks beautiful, but also has higher performance than the non-laminated version. Thanks to this, laminated MDF is the most common wood-based board on the market. It is used in the production of skirting boards, facades, frame structures, partitions and ceiling panels.
The color palette of laminate flooring is very diverse, but the most popular are colors that imitate natural wood.
Veneered MDF
Veneer is wooden plates up to 5 mm thick. Before veneering, the board must be sanded and puttied. Then veneer is placed on its front side. Production technology is divided into three types:
- with the cold method, the veneer is glued thanks to special substances;
- with the hot method, veneer gluing occurs due to exposure to high temperature;
- with the membrane method, the veneer is connected to the slab under vacuum.
Veneered MDF looks very similar to wood, and in terms of durability and service life, it is superior to it. It is used mainly in furniture production and interior design.
