Rattan plant is one of the oldest natural materials used to make rattan wholesale furniture and rattan wicker home furnishings. Thanks to its fantastic characteristics, rattan wicker has swiftly emerged as one of the most popular trends in the world of both indoor and outdoor décor. If you are interested in purchasing rattan goods, this site will help you gain an in-depth understanding of them.
What is Rattan Material?
How to identify rattan?
Rattan material is known as one of roughly 600 species of Old World climbing thorny vine of the palm family. Rattan is identifiable by its spiny, tough, solid stems that range in diameter from 1 to 2 inches and its vines, which can reach lengths of 200 to 500 feet.
Where does rattan come from?
Rattan grows commonly in tropical and subtropical forests in Asia and Africa, especially in Southeast Asia with Indonesia as the largest rattan producer countries.
In Vietnam, there are more than 30 species, widely distributed in natural forests from the North to the South, mainly in the Northern, Central, Central Highlands and Southern provinces. The production sites of quality rattan material and rattan wicker products are concentrated mainly in the provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Dinh, Quang Nam, Ha Nam, Hanoi of Vietnam.
Usually, rattan will be best harvested in the dry season to make it easier to dry, avoid mold and bacteria invasion and more convenient for transportation.
Is rattan eco-friendly?
Rattan material has many ecological benefits, including the fact that it is a natural, biodegradable material and is lightweight, which reduces the carbon footprint of shipping it from Southeast Asia to other parts of the world.
What are the characteristics of rattan?
Rattan material is well known for its solid, supple body and beautiful glossy surface. Also with the technical advances in rattan processing, this wicker material has become an important source of raw materials in many different industries.
The moisture content that is recommended for rattan homewares range from 8 to 16%. If the humidity exceeds this suitable range, it will likely reduce the bearing capacity of the rattan.
Rattan Wicker Production Process
Harvesting
Rattan can be harvested as an excellent substitute for timber, especially in areas with poor forest cover. Harvesting is the initial step in the manufacturing of rattan products. This is labor-intensive and often done by groups of locals who harvest their gardens in shifts with assistance from nearby farms.
The rattan plant will initially be cut, then the stem will be dragged out of the canopy, the leaf sheaths will be pulled back to reveal the rattan cane, and the cane will be cut into lengths, then bundled before being taken out of the forest to the primary processor.
Primary Processing
The harvested rattan canes should be oil-cured or boiled to prevent fungal and insect attacks, speed up the drying process and enhance the color quality. The temperature suitable for diesel boiling ranges is often 60-150°C. Depending on specific types and diameters, immersion and boiling times range from 10 to 30 minutes.
After the oil curing process, the rattan wickers are air-dried in open ground by leaning them vertically or horizontally on wooden frames (end-racking). Depending on the species of rattan and the weather, the drying time for oil-cured rattan might range from 10 and 14 days. When the stem surfaces turn yellowish in color, become light in weight, they are considered to be prepared to be moved to a shed.
Fresh as well as semi-processed poles of rattan are susceptible to attack from various boring insects. Therefore, they need to get chemical treatment to stop the assault of the insects.
Secondary Processing
Secondary processing involves straightening, peeling, polishing, splitting, and sorting. Straightening rattan is supposed to facilitate processing in the succeeding steps of production. Peeling is the step of removing the outer layers to obtain the inner core, which are often manually done with traditional knives or by using simple machines.
Sorting is a process used to divide rattan into different grade and diameter categories. This procedure also involves the removal of any damaged canes, such as those that are stained or have wounds and bruises. Additionally, the cane’s immature sections are cut away.
Tertiary Processing
As to rattan baskets wholesale, the weaving is often done by hand by local weavers. Normally, they weave products in their houses, then producing companies collect products and do the quality checking.
For making handcrafted in Vietnam furniture, this process normally involves many steps ranging from bending, dowelling, drilling, binding to finishing. Let’s deep dive more here!
- Bending is a common process in the manufacture of rattan furniture for sale. For different sorts of bends, moulding benches with fixed molds are employed.
- Making dowel holes is a significant construction method that is frequently used in the manufacture of rattan furniture to link the components.
- Sub-assemblies might need to be drilled in order to prepare for the final assembly of furniture. After the components are joined, binding is done to give the furniture more strength and aesthetic appeal.
- Finally, a base coat is sprayed on the components of the cane in a spray booth on turntables. When the base coat is drying, they are sanded in order to smoothen the surface in preparation for the application of a final coat.
Natural Rattan Wicker Intermediate Products
Rattan Cane
Rattan cane is a harvested and cleaned rattan stem. According to the treatment, there are two types, including natural rattan cane and peeled rattan cane. Natural rattan cane has its intact skin on, with a fairly smooth surface but often with bruises or wrinkles. The other type is peeled rattan cane, whose skin has been removed, so it will be smoother with no wrinkles on the surface.
If classified by size, rattan cane will be divided into large diameter rattan and small diameter rattan. Large diameter rattan has its diameter of 18mm and above, which can be produced into furniture. Meanwhile, small diameter rattan describe the canes with a diameter of below 18mm, suitable for making handicrafts.
Rattan Core
Rattan Core, also called rattan split, is derived from the longitudinal splitting of the rattan cane. The selection of the appropriate material is the primary determining factor in rattan core. A good rattan core is flexible and sturdy enough, won’t snap and break when bent. Rattan has consistent size and shape throughout its whole length.
A rattan core is split into strands (fibers) of various sizes which often range from 2mm to 15mm. The round strands of rattan are frequently woven into home goods wholesale such as rattan baskets wholesale and plain lamp shades wholesale. Coiling and Plain weaving are two basic types of weaving.
Rattan Skin/Peel
The rattan skin, also called peel, is the outermost layer separated from the rattan trunk and split into flat fibers of various sizes. It has flat or semi-circular shaping, with a width of 2-10 mm, extracted from the peripheral portion of the cane including the skin.
Rattan skin is exceptionally smooth to remove any imperfections. It can be found in both conventional and modern furniture and everyday items. Furthermore, this ecological product is perfectly adapted for tying the joints of furniture, weaving homeware products, or weaving rattan cane webbing.
Rattan Webbing
Rattan webbing, also called rattan cane webbing, is a preferred material often used to add decorative accents for handcrafted in Vietnam furniture. It is often manufactured by machines and sold in sheet rolls that are then cut and fastened to the frame of furniture, particularly chair seats and backrests.
Cane webbing is adaptable enough to curve over the sharp corners of wooden frames and sturdy enough to hold the weight of a sitting human. The cupboards, tables, chairs, curtain walls, and other furniture are frequently made from rattan cane webbing.
> Learn more: Differences between Rattan vs Wicker
Home Goods Wholesale From Rattan Material
Rattan is a versatile, durable material used to make a variety of home goods wholesale. Here are a few key categories made from rattan wicker for your reference:
- Furniture – Rattan has long been a mainstay in the creation of many indoor and outdoor furniture for consumers’ homes because the stems of rattan are easily bent and offer superb durability.
- Rattan Baskets Wholesale – Owing to the sturdiness, a series of rattan wicker baskets are produced and fit in various spaces and uses from storage to decoration.
- Plain lamp shades wholesale – Rattan core or skin strands are hand-woven into lampshades which certainly brings elegance and coziness to any space.
- Trays, Boxes, and other wholesale home decor accessories – Cover up things with a classic rattan wicker box which varies in shape and size making your customers happy with every corner of home.
Although wood has always been a popular material for a long time, we cannot deny the function that rattan brings to people in modern life. In addition, rattan also plays an important role in people’s livelihood. In fact, there are thousands of people who depend on harvesting, producing and selling finished rattan products to make ends meet.
Notes of Rattan Wicker Uses & Cares
How long does rattan wicker last?
Although it has a shorter lifespan than synthetic rattan – a type which is able to withstand all types of weather, rattan wicker can still last up to 10 years with proper care.
What happens if rattan gets wet?
Rattan wicker can rot, mildew, or smell terrible if it gets wet. Natural wicker furniture shouldn’t be used outside because it might become ruined by moisture and sunlight.
Does rattan go moldy?
The main chemical components of rattan are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, so they are susceptible to mold and insect pests that reduce quality, especially if not processed in time.
Can real rattan be left outside?
Real rattan wicker shouldn’t be used outside 24/7 because the cold, wet wood will crack and become brittle. These furniture shouldn’t ever be kept outside because the sun can potentially destroy them.
There is no waterproofing in natural rattan. While it can be exceedingly robust and resilient when properly maintained, it is easily ruined when constantly soaked in water.
How to look after rattan wicker?
- Keep it away from the sun and rain. It is better to keep natural rattan indoors. The worst enemies of wicker are moisture and sunlight.
- Regularly and gently clean. You can clean them with mild soap and water in order to remove dirt. Wash the set with the suds and then gently wipe it off with a cloth to prevent water damage on a natural set. Stains should be removed as soon as possible.
- Dry completely. If using a moist cloth to clean, avoid soaking the item. To avoid warping and mold if it gets too wet, try to dry it in the sun.
- Purchase a cover. Consider buying some covers to provide additional protection from dust, rain, and regular wear and tear if you want to get the most use possible out of furniture.
Although the rattan wicker can be used for a long time due to its desirable qualities, it will shorten its lifespan if not cared for properly. If you own a business of rattan products, the tips above will help consumers prolong the life of this item as well as bring satisfaction.
Key Takeaways
Rattan is a tropical plant that has flexible and sustainable natural material which is used in making furniture, baskets, lamps and other handicrafts. As a lightweight material and almost impervious but may be easily broken by bad condition, you should provide it with proper care.
Should you take an interest in more natural rattan or wicker furniture, home products, kindly contact us on the website https://artexnaman.com/ or via email at [email protected] for tailored product collections.
