Water hyacinth for furniture substrate

Water hyacinth is a bog plant that is usually found in water pool such as: lakes, rivers, ponds, etc. Water hyacinth is often problematic in rivers, lakes and the man-made ponds if uncontrolled. These plants grow very quickly and it will block and cover up the water and cause silting in the river or pond where he grew up. The rivers will have lees ability to accommodate water. Thus, their functions as a place to collect and drain water can not fulfill well. Similarly, in lakes or ponds, uncontrolled water hyacinth will result in reduced ability of the pond as a water reservoir. The water hyacinth that entirely cover lakes and ponds also blocks the sunlight from reaching native aquatic plants. It causes oxygen starvation in the water and killing the animal species in there. The plants also create a prime habitat for animal disease vector such as mosquito, and a species of snail known to host a parasitic flatworm which causes snail fever diseases.

water hyacinth for seat back chair

Water hyacinth for furniture and handicraft
 
In the area of central Java, water hyacinth is one of a fairly cumbersome nuisance plant; several kinds of methods are used to control this plant. Until finally found a good solution by using the plants to produce useful goods and products. Currently water hyacinth has been used as substrate for making furniture and handicraft. The hyacinth is cut and dried to make many handicraft products such as: bags, baskets, accessories and other small items. The uses of water hyacinth in the handicraft and furniture industry is good option to get the added value of this plant, even though it take long time process. The plant need to be dried to reach the standard moisture content of the natural product ( m.c. about 12%) before it can processed to make any product. The drying process will take a long time since the plant is aquatic plants that contain lots of water in its trunk.

The dried hyacinth stem is durable, flexible. It can be woven and shaped in any form to make many product. In the manufacturing of bags and small goods then these stems are plaited and tight to form the model and shape according to the goods created. At the furniture manufacturer the water hyacinth stems are whickered to be used as the back seat in a chair, couch, or as an accent on large products such as: drawer front or back panel on a bed. With the right design, the water hyacinth can provide a unique looked to furniture products to make an attractive furniture.  Furniture with rustic or antique model will increasingly attractive with the use of woven water hyacinth as an accent on certain parts. The use of water hyacinth is now increasingly popular in the furniture industry. Much water hyacinth furniture has been produced and ship to fill the furniture market .   

water hyacinth with dark finish

Finishing for the water hyacinth.
 
Water hyacinth is the form of small rods that do not have a wide surface. The attraction of the water hyacinth is created by its woven pattern. The finishing on this material, mostly do to enhance the impression of its woven pattern. This substrate has a dark brown base color with dark spots in some parts which naturally give the impression of antique and rustic. A transparent color finishing is good choice for this substrate. The application of a light stain with a thin clear coating can be chosen to produce an attractive performance with natural and rustic appearance. A wiping stain or glaze application, leaving the stain on the inside webbing also good option to enhance the antique impression of the webbing. 
The adhesion some time become problem for the hyacinth finish, since it has a kind of wax layer in the surface. The wax will adhere the adhesion of the finishing material to the substrate. Then a special treatment is needed to prevent this problem. The wax should be washed off with acetone or thinner before the finishing process is started. Some special material is needed to layered as the first finishing process to neutralize the wax. Then we can apply the stain and coating to do the finishing. A thin and elastic finishing layer should be used to finish the substrate. Avoid too thick finishing layer since it will higher risk to the cracked problem. The thick layer is also will reduce the natural and beauty appearance of its webbing from.