Compressed wood product and manufacture

A method of forming a compressed wood product comprising the steps of:

• subjecting a piece or pieces of softwood, with a moisture content of approximately 30-40% (w/w) to a first heating compression step in which the density of the softwood is increased to a first predetermined level and the moisture content is reduced to between approximately 3-8% (w/w),
• releasing said wood from said first compression step, coating and impregnating said compressed wood with a fatty acid,
• subjecting said impregnated compressed wood to a second heating compression step in which the density of said compressed wood is increased to a second predetermined level and the moisture content is further reduced and in which said fatty acid is further impregnated into said compressed wood, and
• releasing said wood from said second compression step and allowing said impregnated compressed wood to anneal while cooling to ambient temperature.

A method of forming a compressed wood product comprising the steps of:

• subjecting a piece or pieces of diffuse porous hardwood, with a moisture content of approximately 40-50% (w/w) to a first heating compression step in which the density of the hardwood is increased to a first predetermined level and the moisture content is reduced to approximately 4-8% (w/w),
• releasing wood from said first compression step and coating and impregnating said compressing wood with a fatty acid,
• optionally, when said wood is hardwood, subjecting said impregnating compressed wood to a second heated compression step in which the density of said compressed wood is increased to a second predetermined level and the moisture content is reduced to suit end product requirements, at as low as 2-4% (w/w) and in which said fatty acid is further impregnated into said compressed wood, and
• releasing said wood from said second compression step and allowing said impregnated compressed wood to anneal while cooling to ambient temperature.