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Cork Info

Wood stove with natural cork casing

01 Apr 2022 By administracja

Wood stove with natural cork casing – Natura is an award-winning wood-burning stove designed by Portuguese design studio Inngage.

https://www.inngage.pt/project/natura/

The structure gives a unique character thanks to the cork outer layer.

Natura is a wood stove designed for Fogo Montanha.

https://www.fogo-montanha.com/

Its projectants design it to give an industrial product a more natural feel. The idea of using cork as the main cladding material arose from the desire to give the user a tactile experience. Thus it gives a better sense of heat.

Following the philosophy of simple construction, the stove body is from steel. Cork profiles are laid on and fixed to its structure. These profiles are separated from the steel structure. It prevents the cork from darkening over time.

Wood stove with natural cork casing manufactured from modular cork profiles, it resembles vintage radiators. At the same time this material reinforces safety by allowing users to safely touch and feel the wood stove. It makes this equipment suitable for any room in the home.

Nature as a research project is over two years old. The relationship between the cork and the combustion chamber has been studied and improved. That ensures proper air circulation, ease of installation. This ensures also user safety when interacting with the wood stove through rigorous use tests.

Cork Info

House of natural cork in Barcelona

02 Mar 2022 By administracja

Architect Elisabetta Quarta Colosso from Spanish studio El Fil Verd designed a single-family house covered with natural cork panels on the edge of Barcelona’s Garraf Park. The cork is here not only energy-saving and insulating. It was also used to best fit the building into the natural surroundings. The house was built for a retired couple who dreamed of living in nature in a house with low energy consumption.

Design of house of natural cork in Barcelona constraints included a steeply sloping plot facing north and a limited customer budget. With this in mind, the architect saw the project as an opportunity to demonstrate that it was possible to construct passive, bioclimatically designed buildings at an affordable cost.

Town planning regulations allowed for the development of up to three levels. Instead, the architect decided to shape the house as one cubature on two floors to better fit it into the surroundings. The building opens to the north to the Montserrat mountain and has a beautiful view of the park.

On the other hand, the facades facing the street and the neighbors are intentionally devoid of openings. This ensures privacy for residents. The living area and one bedroom are on the ground floor. On the first floor there is a second bedroom and a large terrace with a solarium and a garden. Each room in the house allows you to contemplate the forest from a different perspective.

To achieve an ultra-energy-efficient building, the architect conducted a detailed study of the local climate and topography of the site,. She applied a series of bioclimatic design strategies that take into account both cold winters and hot summers. One of these strategies involves building orientation. It is positioned along the North-South axis to maximize solar radiation in winter and promote effective natural ventilation in summer.

To heat the house of natural cork in Barcelona, the south façade, in its glazed part, acts as a solar heater. This is due to the greenhouse effect. Solar radiation, which has a reduced angle in these months, penetrates inside and turns into heat, increasing the temperature of the apartment.

The Trombe-Mitchell walls on the façade on the south side act as hot chambers. When they which reach high temperatures during the day and transfer them by convection and radiation to the interior. On the northern side, the openings have been minimized so that they do not adversely affect the heat balance.

Cork Info

Cork Mats for Turntables

14 Feb 2022 By administracja

Not many people know, but cork is a useful material even in such a narrow field as the production of turntables, or more precisely, gramophone mats. A gramophone mat protects records from scratching and improves listening comfort. The most popular gramophone mats are most often rubber mats and those made of cork. Cork mats for turntables tend to be slightly softer in terms of sound, while rubber mats have a more damping effect on playback. If the air is dry in the room, it may be profitable to switch to a rubber or cork mat to minimize static effects. A cork mat is often used because it absorbs vibrations generated by the motor and produces less static electricity than felt mats.

An interesting fact is that turntables also use a rubber cork material as a mat. Both cork and rubbercork work best on metal plates. One thing to remember when adding a rubber turntable mat or a cork mat to your turntable is that you will have to reset the turntable VTA as these mats are almost always thicker than the felt mat they are replacing.

Cork mats seem to be a bit softer in terms of sound. Probably the cork makes the biggest difference in sound of all disc mats. This mostly inexpensive option is great for creating a smooth contact between the plate and platter, making it incredibly easy to separate the disc after use. An additional advantage of cork mats is that they are a very grateful material for printing all kinds of patterns on it. The Internet is full of unique mats for lovers of analog audio. And if you don’t find anything for yourself, you can make such a pattern yourself and put it on the mat.

Cork Info

Cars covered with corks

27 Jan 2022 By administracja

Bottle corks are used in truly unusual areas. One of them, which has been used in at least several places around the world, is the use of cork stoppers for cars covered with corks. The first of the cars we found on the internet is the BMW Isetta. Its American buyer Daune Sanders spent almost a year gluing 1,900 cork stoppers to the surface of his small car.

Another vehicle of cars covered with corks was noticed in Los Angleles, and its owners also boasted about their new acquisition on the web. The third example that we can come across when looking for information about similar ideas of car owners comes from France. Claude Penin, a retired former cyclist and lover of good wines, combined his two passions through unusual work with cork stoppers.

He has been recycling cork plugs for five years. Initially, his passion was covering bicycles with corks. But when a friend gave him a used Renault, he could not pass up the opportunity and the vehicle ended up completely covered with wine corks. Thanks to his work in the area, he is known as “Papa Bouchon“.

In Texas, and more precisely in Houston, an American, Jan Elftman, covered her car with wine corks in the 90s. She collected corks during her studies while working as a waitress. The idea for such a decoration was born when she and a friend from Houston went to the Artistic Cars parade (https://www.artcarexperience.com/), which took place in the area. She used about 10,000 to cover the car. traffic jams. But as the artist emphasizes – it was not just about making the car more comfortable or safe. Elftman wanted to create a work that people would come into contact with in places where art is not usually communicated.

We have not found a similar example anywhere else. But it may inspire you to create a car that no one will pass by indifferently, of course, using corks from our store:

https://cork-shop.co.uk/category/bottles-stoppers/

Cork Info

Expanded cork guitar

27 Jan 2022 By administracja

The world’s first cork electric guitar was developed in Viana do Castelo by designer João Rodrigues. The main material used to manufacture this guitar is expanded cork, which is usually used as a coating and thermal insulation in buildings. The remaining 25% of this unique guitar is reclaimed wood used for the shoulder and middle of the body. It makes the instrument lighter and greener.

“When I started the project, I searched the entire internet and couldn’t find anywhere in the world that anyone had built a cork guitar. There was one in Portugal, but it was natural cork,” says Jose Rodrigues. It took two years to build the guitar. It was created as part of the master’s thesis. The artist spent the first year on academic research and the next designing and manufacturing an instrument whose mass is 75% expanded cork. The project started in 2019 with a brand launched by Joao Rodrigues and his colleague. The company Mai’Land Guitars already offers such a guitar for 1000 euros and several cases made of expanded cork.

Mai’Land Guitars guitar was officially presented by Alto Minho on November 12, 2019 at a concert at the Viana do Castelo Cultural Center as part of the program of the 8th National Meeting of Design Students (ENED) to be held in the capital this year , with the theme “Design, Industry and Crafts”.

All products created by João have a stylish design, minimal finish, strong Portuguese trait and use cork. Currently the designer/musician is already developing a new guitar while improving the craftsmanship of this beautiful first model. Another novelty in 2020 was the instrument case made of natural cork sheets (90%) and wood, giving a solid and light structure. All wood used for the guitar or case is recycled.

Cork Info

Spray cork – application

27 Jan 2022 By administracja

As building science advances, we try to use the latest technologies to find the right solutions. Sometimes this technology can mix old and new ways, and it doesn’t have to be toxic. A spray cork – application is an excellent example of an innovative and proven solution for building exterior cladding, thermal insulation and waterproofing using old, natural building materials.

Spray cork – application is an alternative to paint or stucco with a mixture of 80% cork granules and 20% water based paint available in many color variations. The spray cork looks very much like stucco. Its surface is structured and feels soft. It is very similar to the paint, only denser. It comes in as many colors as any color, and you can tint it too.

You can use a spray cork on almost any surface that you paint with traditional paint. You can spray it directly on all kinds of exterior walls of your house. The cork structure also creates a nice non-slip surface, making it perfect for patios and walkways. Cork does not feel as hot as masonry and stone, making it ideal for pool decking. As an alternative to spray foam, you can also use a spray plug in the recesses of the inner walls to seal air holes.

Unlike closed-cell foam, spray cork is breathable and allows moisture vapor to pass through, allowing it to dry faster. This application method can also protect wooden walls from mold and rot by acting as a protective binder on the wood. The spray cork can also be applied directly to interior walls if you like this interior style.

Cork is a highly renewable resource, typically sourced from government-protected forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council – the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in Portugal. Tree bark is harvested every nine years for 150-250 years. Gathering cork does not harm the trees. Additionally, the granules used in aerosol corks are typically waste by-products of the cork stopper industry.

The spray cork is a mixture of 80% cork granules and 20% water-based paint, applied with a spray gun and compressed air. Because spray cork contains 80% cork, it reduces the release of microplastics from paint degradation. Compare this to other elastomer paints that use more synthetic compounds instead.

The sprayed cork closes gaps and air leaks very well and a tight building is a big step towards a thermally efficient building. A spray cork can be applied to any properly prepared surface – stucco, steel, aluminum, wood, brick, vinyl, clapboard and others. You can use it on a variety of surfaces.

Debris and dust rarely stick to the cork surface and when they do occur the surface can be washed off. After ten years, like any paint, the finish can fade in the sun and may need to be reapplied. A spray cork has seemingly endless benefits. As a renewable raw material and building material, it is an attractive choice for a wide range of applications. It is used in many applications as it adheres to wood, metal, plastic and concrete and is used both inside and outside buildings. Works in any climate; It is resistant to UV rays, atmospheric agents and hail, high and low temperatures, abrasion, fungi and mold.

It’s even fireproof, meets European E-class standards and doesn’t emit any toxic fumes when smoldering. Cork can increase the fire resistance of a building’s exterior in fire-prone regions. The sprayed cork contributes to the thermal insulation of the structure, seals air gaps in the building and absorbs sound. Attaching a spray cork to the outside of a building is an easy way to easily insulate an existing finished structure. The spray cork repels water (making it difficult for the masonry to absorb water) while remaining breathable, allowing steam to penetrate. When the walls are worn you can spray them with a spray cork, saving labor and money and reducing construction waste. It won’t crack and is more flexible than paint and stucco. It is hypoallergenic and self-cleaning as sediment and dust do not stick to its surface as easily.

Cork Info

Lambourde insulation board

30 Nov 2021 By administracja

Lambourde insulation board is a quick application system designed for low thickness insulation and building renovation. It is used for mechanical fastening to the floor or wall, providing: perfect thermal and acoustic insulation under wood or plasterboard finish. The material is 100% natural. It has unparalleled thermal and acoustic properties. The material is easy to install thanks to flush-mounted slats and provides mechanical stability.

Lambourde insulation board works in a very wide temperature range, from -180 ° C to 120 ° C. At very high temperatures, it does not emit any toxic substances such as carbon dioxide. The overall product density is approximately 110 kg / m3. The fire reaction class is marked with the letter E in the European specification. The sound absorption capacity can be as high as 59 dB when using this product. Thanks to the Portuguese solution, the strips embedded in the cork allow you to install both plasterboard and OSB boards.

After assembly, the lambourde board will be resistant to many chemicals, insects and rodents. It can be used in walls, floors and ceilings. It is also used to prevent cold from escaping from chambers where low temperature is required. Sometimes you can also find the application of vibration isolation of machines and devices. This cork is suitable for both construction from scratch as well as renovation and reconstruction.

Cork Info

Absorption of vibrations by cork in industry and construction

18 Nov 2021 By administracja

Absorption of vibrations by cork in industry and construction combines performance with environmental considerations. With the development of infrastructure and urbanization, the importance of a high-quality acoustic environment for human well-being increases.

People around the world are more aware of the impact acoustics have on their daily lives and expect a higher quality acoustic experience.

On the other hand, trends in the areas of sustainability, recycling and circular economy require a stronger focus on waste minimization and environmental pollution. Cork-based sound and vibration isolation solutions are advancing to meet these three pressing needs.

anti vbrating cork composites in building's columns

Although cork has a higher loss factor than rubber – which is essential for the damping function and consequently energy dissipation – anti-vibration rubbers are insulating and offer very little damping.

The combination of the two materials as a cork-rubber composite provides additional properties as a vibration isolating material. No material combines process performance and handling with such perfection and diversity. Moreover it has resistance to mechanical and thermal effects as well as chemical compatibility in products that are easy to cut and shape for final use.

Absorption of vibrations by cork in industry and construction and the unusual properties of cork are currently being tested in high-speed trains. Special cork floors in the form of a lightweight composite structure are more and more often found in the inner floors of passenger carriages. There are aluminum alloy shells on both sides.

As with all mobility models, reducing the weight of railway wagons is crucial for energy consumption. Requirements such as the inclusion of HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems, noise reduction, increased thermal insulation, design versatility and safety regulations for collision structures usually have a common denominator: weight gain. Cork composites help reduce it.

Cork Info

Cork in modern art

02 Nov 2021 By administracja

In modern art, cork plays an extraordinary role more and more often. Even ordinary wine cork stoppers with the right hands can become a work of art. One of the contemporary artists who uses this ecological material is Daniel Kubini, born in Czechoslovakia in 1983. He uses wine corks to create spectacular large-format cork portraits.

In his studio on Wasserfeldstrasse he set a special example of this and his first major work: Freddy Mercury, ex-lead singer of the group “Queen”. With 330 hours of work and almost 12,000 corks, he created a large-format painting. His other work is a globe 160 cm in diameter and 2 meters high, which the artist spent 2 years creating and about 17,000 corks.

cork art image of freddy mercury cork made

In another part of Europe lives the Albanian Saimir Strati, whose fame echoed around the world. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records with six of its enormous mosaics. Strati applied its cork mosaic to the facade of the Sheraton Hotel in Tirana in 27 labor-intensive days: 229,764 corks, spread over an area of 91.87 square meters. It thus set a new world record for the largest cork mosaic.

Even more spectacular works are done by Alexandre Farto, also known as Vhils. His enormous works are intended as an element of the city landscape. Known for his portraits carved directly onto the walls of buildings around the world, Portuguese artist Vhils recently experimented with cork, creating a gigantic, almost frieze scene of faces, words and patterns, entitled Contraste.

Elementy dzieła różnią się głębią, co sprawia, że faluje ono w miarę przesuwania się wzroku, jakby fragmenty docierały do widza. Twarze są renderowane w poplamione, prawie pikselowe zagęszczenie, pojawiające się wyraźnie pod pewnymi kątami i całkowicie znikające pod innymi.

Kontrast jest duży, złożony, hałaśliwy i zmienia się, niezależnie od tego, jak na to spojrzymy. Prace można obecnie oglądać w Covilhã w Portugalii, w centrum danych Portugal Telecom.

Cork Info

Ways to cutting out a cork

20 Oct 2021 By administracja

When laying floorboards or attaching cork as wall cladding, cutting to size is usually unavoidable. Because cork panels have a certain size, just like walls or floors. It may then be that the cork panels have to be trimmed a little on one side so that the surface can be completely covered and no edges are left behind.

Before you begin the cutting process, you will need the right tools. Appropriate cutting accessories should be considered. Which knife or saw you can use here also depends on the thickness of the respective cork sheets.

The following cutting tools are therefore recommended: a carving knife or a sharp wallpaper cutter, which are suitable for thin cork sheets.

For this, however, you have to cut several times, only a light pressure on the knife is important, this gives you a clean cut edge so that the cork board does not break at the edge.

For thicker cork, you can use a jigsaw or thin wooden saw blades. When corking, saw slowly and without pressure

Before doing this, you have to clamp the cork sheet between the two screw clamps and mark the interface with a lath so that the cut edge is accurate.

The hand saw, on the other hand, is suitable for panels of medium thickness. In this case too, you need to clamp the board and saw it slowly.

Ways to cutting out a cork - CNC cork cut

When it comes to more sophisticated cork processes that are more likely to be used to make cork accessories for commercial purposes, two should be mentioned: laser cutting and CNC cutting. The first can be seen in the video below. It is mainly used in the manufacture of cork coasters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-FiA-RGQEg

On the other hand, CNC cutting is also no less precise, used with a cork of larger dimensions, can be viewed in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgrWMFLOvJQ