Rattan

Rattan and rattan products are of the tribe of the genus Calamus Rattanpalmen or other palms of the subfamily of Calamoideae.

Origin of the name

The term comes from the Malay rattan (there: rotan ). Rattan cane comes from the Low German paddik Pith '. Other designations are Manau, Manila, Malacca, named after the respective ports of shipment, or " Spanish cane ", " cane ", " rattan " or " rattan ". In German usage is often labeled " rattan " the outer skin of the drives or the whole drive, with " cane " the interior of the shoots.

Use

The most common use of rattan and wicker are wicker and wicker furniture, such as chairs or armchairs. Wetlands and particularly under steam or hot air gun, the rattan material is soft yet elastic enough to braid.

When using three different processing options can be distinguished:

The tube can be split, the resulting strands can then be removed or planed to size.

The tube is then rolled and dried.

If Stuhlflechtrohr to be stained, it must be subjected to a special dressing, since the engine outside is water repellent. Stuhlflechtrohr, in the classification of yellow tape, pre- bleached. It can also be changed after processing pickled.

There are several commercial grades, are common today Rotband, blue band and yellow band ( beizfähig ). The name comes from the color of the ribbons used for bundling. Depending on the strength is as rattan rattan (up to 5 mm), Stakenpeddig (from 6 mm, round) or Peddigschienen ( from 5/ 6 mm, flat, rounded surface ) sold. Even more extensive, flat / square variants are referred to as Peddigband. The outer skin is sold as Stuhlflechtrohr (<4 mm) and coiled tubing ( 4 mm ). Also finished fabric of both materials are commercially available.

Before processing, you have to soak the material, make stronger impulses via steam pliable.

Later sporadic wetting is recommended with a water mister or wiping with a damp cloth to prevent the natural flexibility is not lost. Alone, only with water but should not happen too often this is because in the long run, the material can harden and become brittle. By the addition of saddle soap the material smoother for longer.

Another potential application is the processing as stalk of mallets in the field of percussion and mallet instruments. Many percussionists and orchestra musicians swear by mallets with rattan handle, as this is characterized by its elasticity and lightness.

As industrially manufactured replacement wicker was developed.

Others

The shoots of rattan vine can grow up to 200 feet long, which places special demands on the water supply of the plant. The root system of the water supply generates a high pressure in the xylem, with which the water is pressed into the stem, and a tearing off of the column of water is prevented in the plant. The transpiration, caused by the water evaporation from the leaf surfaces would not be enough to maintain the water column. Practically, this property of Rotan can be used for the extraction of clean drinking water; to the stem is cut at Wurzelrhizom and collected emerging from the rhizome water.