Bending wood with fire is a skill that truly tests temperature control abilities.
You can't burn it too intensely, or it will break.
Nor can it be too light, or it won't bend.
You need to reach the exact point where the wood can be softened by heat without igniting.
Chen Wen learned a somewhat... unconventional method from Gan Tieshan.
Put simply, it's like how electricians check for electricity — by touching.
Of course, not directly with a bare hand, but by wetting the hand before touching.
Generally, the lignin in the wood softens between 150 to 200 degrees Celsius, making the wood pliable.
Within this range, when you touch with a wet hand and quickly pull away, it feels very hot.
Gan Tieshan also taught the proper method.
That is to look and smell, to see if the wood surface turns dark brown and if there's a caramel aroma.
If you can see and smell it, it indicates that the lignin has softened.
Ultimately, this job heavily relies on experience.
