![\"wooden](\"https:\/\/revistadinlemn.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/roata-pe-gard.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI saw this question a few days ago on a carpenters' group and it was addressed to all colleagues in the group. Since then I've been thinking about the topic and have an answer, at least from my point of view. Originally I wanted to put it on the group, but the answer is longer and I can detail it better here.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Looking at the way things are done now compared to 40-50 years ago, at the household level, we discover differences right from the choice of wood species and the time of felling. In the past people built their own houses,<\/a> the equipment and fences<\/a>, having a \"clac\u0103\" with relatives and neighbors. They sometimes had a \"specialist\" among them, a skilled craftsman from whom they listened to everyone and from whom they learned the secrets of the trade handed down from generation to generation. Being directly involved, they paid more attention to the behavior of wood under certain conditions, saw that some species were more resistant to outdoor conditions than others, and understood what they could do to make the wood last longer. The young man worked alongside his father, who had worked alongside his father. The knowledge was accumulated and passed on to his descendants and it was all based on observing the evolution of the work over time.<\/p>\n The wood was not bought in stores, but trees were cut from the yard or from the forest on the property, or at most bought, still \"standing\" from a wealthier neighbor. They were felled only when they were needed, felling was done in late fall or early winter (late November, December, early January) when vegetation was minimal and the amount of water in the wood very low, and the oldest trees were chosen, never young trees because they knew they were less resistant. The young, growing tree has a porous structure designed to absorb as much water as possible. The porous structure remains after the tree is cut down. Water gets inside much more easily and stays there, perfect conditions for the wood to rot. This is why, when the trees in the yard were not old enough, they borrowed from neighbors or relatives, and would repay the debt when the trees on their property had grown old enough.<\/p>\n Each area had its favorite wood for such work, depending on what was growing nearby. In the mountains resinous<\/a>, hills and plains, acacia<\/a>, oak tree<\/a>, the sparrow. Among the resinous trees, who had the lari\u021b\u0103 (larch<\/a>) was rich. The wood was hard, strong and also good for houses. They didn't know much about resin or tannins in wood, but they knew that fences made with these species lasted longer. When trees were very scarce and therefore hard to find, they made fences out of woven wicker. In the B\u0103r\u0103gan, such fences were quite common.<\/p>\n They knew that water was bad for the wood, so they worked the fence elements so that the water would drain away and the wood would absorb as little as possible. The elements were rounded off at the top or cut at a sharp angle so that rainwater would not stagnate and would drain away as quickly as possible. They favored simple elements, but if they did cut out, the patterns were made in such a way that they didn't hold water. In regions where winter lasted longer,\u00a0gates and fences were built with roofs<\/a>. Planks were placed on the fence perpendicular to the vertical elements. In this way the snow did not stagnate on the end of the plank, where the absorption is higher, being the ends of the fibers.<\/p>\n The planks were cut parallel to the central axis of the tree, along the grain, and then gelled, i.e. worked by shaving<\/a> (gel\u0103u\/geal\u0103u - large-sized rhea). They made fine cuts parallel to the fiber with the knife of the planer, avoiding slicing it. Water absorption was reduced and the wood held much better.<\/p>\n The construction of the fence involves the supporting and resistance elements, i.e. the posts or bulumacs, the crosspieces that linked the posts together and the planks that were beaten on the crosspieces (called \"cosa\u0219i\" in my grandparents' area). While less resistant species were sometimes chosen for the planks (for lack of hardwood), only those highly resistant to rotting were used for the posts. Burnt oil was applied to the poles before they were buried, and the earth was placed gently sloping around them to allow the water to drain off. Sand and stones brought in to drain the water were placed in the post holes. The reapers were sometimes laid at an angle to make the water slide more easily, or thicker branches that were not very straight were used.<\/p>\n The planks were not crammed together to let air circulate. The draughts quickly dried the rain-soaked boards and the fence stayed healthy. Also to let the air circulate, there were never any buildings attached to the fence. There was always a gap, however small, between the fence and the building next to it.<\/p>\n In the past they weren't too bothered by the sun changing the color of the wood. The grey wood of fences<\/a>and of the houses and of the houses was common. It was only when it turned black that it was a problem because it meant it was mold. It was rubbed with a straw or wire brush, and the mold would clean off.<\/p>\n It was used to make it resistant to moisture linseed oil<\/a> boiled or burned tractor oil. They sometimes used oil paint, but painting the fence was a luxury few could afford. Paint was saved for the wood of the house. As for the fence, they made sure that it was well built so that it would be strong even without extra protection.<\/p>\nChoice of wood<\/h5>\n
![\"wooden](\"https:\/\/revistadinlemn.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/scanduri-si-stalp.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFence pattern and processing of its elements<\/h5>\n
Fitting the fence<\/h5>\n
![\"wooden](\"https:\/\/revistadinlemn.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/gard-vechi-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFinishing<\/h5>\n
![\"wooden](\"https:\/\/revistadinlemn.ro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/scaune-vintage.jpg\")
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"