SAASTE Technology/Activities/Preservation-2

Processing

Grade 6

Preserving
Wind, heat, water are some of the main causes of materials deteriorating. One of the ways to preserve these materials is to treat them with a preservative.

The material we will work with is wood.

You will need:
 * Wooden peg, small piece of wood, wooden coaster, wooden spoon, wooden cutting board, classroom desk.
 * Varnish, wax polish, silicone spray, cooking oil, lacquer, paint.
 * Brushes, pieces of cloth, newspaper.

About preservatives
The technique you use will depend on:
 * the condition of the article
 * the type of preservative used

The choice of preservative will depend on:
 * the type of article
 * the intended use of the article

How to apply preservatives:
 * In most case it is advisable to sandpaper the article first.
 * If you are using paint, varnish, lacquer, etc use a clean brush and apply thin coats. Allow to dry between coats and sand lightly before applying the next coat.
 * If you are using wax, apply with a clean cloth. Use a circular motion and finish off with straight strokes. You could also "buff" (shine) the article with a dry cloth.
 * If you are using oil you could pour a little onto the article and then using a clean cloth rub the oil into the article. Wipe off any excess oil.
 * If you are using sprays, apply thin coats. Sand in between coats.

Think and Do activity:

Think: Complete the table below to show what preservative you will use for each article, give a reason and say how you will do it.

Do: Select the wooden spoon and the wooden peg and do the preservation.

Author: Cheryl Jaftha

Editor: Osman Sadeck