Fractal burning, Lichtenberg burning or wood fracking refers to a technique where a

Lichtenberg figure A Lichtenberg figure (German: ''Lichtenberg-Figur''), or Lichtenberg dust figure, is a branching electric discharge that sometimes appears on the surface or in the interior of Electrical insulation, insulating materials. Lichtenberg figures a ...

is burnt into wood using

high voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant sp ...

electricity. It has gained notoriety due to numerous incidents of death or severe injuries when people have attempted it at home, with at least 33 people having died between 2017 and 2022.

Process

By applying a coat of

electrolytic An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity through the movement of ions, but not through the movement of electrons. This includes most soluble salts, acids, and bases, dissolved in a polar solvent like water. Upon dissolving, the ...

solution to the surface of the wood, the resistance of the surface drops considerably. Two electrodes are then placed on the wood and a high voltage is passed across them. Current from the electrodes will cause the surface of the wood to heat up until the electrolyte boils and the wooden surface burns. Because the charred surface of the wood is mildly conductive, the surface of the wood will burn in a pattern outwards from the electrodes.

Danger

The danger lies in the process relying on high voltages, much higher than normal mains electricity. High voltages enable a potentially fatal current to pass through the body. The slightest contact with the equipment involved may result in death. At such high voltages,

arc flash An arc flash is the light and heat produced as part of an arc fault (sometimes referred to as an electrical flashover), a type of electricity, electrical explosion or discharge that results from a connection through air to ground or another vol ...

es are also a risk. Caso SMG20 - MD Microwave Oven Manufacturing MD-801EMR-1-0189

Transformer In electrical engineering, a transformer is a passive component that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another circuit, or multiple Electrical network, circuits. A varying current in any coil of the transformer produces ...

s from

microwave oven A microwave oven, or simply microwave, is an electric oven that heats and cooks food by exposing it to electromagnetic radiation in the microwave frequency range. This induces Dipole#Molecular dipoles, polar molecules in the food to rotate and ...

s are frequently used for the technique because they are easily obtainable. They can produce voltages of around 2,100 volts (2,000 volts is used by the modern

electric chair The electric chair is a specialized device used for capital punishment through electrocution. The condemned is strapped to a custom wooden chair and electrocuted via electrodes attached to the head and leg. Alfred P. Southwick, a Buffalo, New Yo ...

, a device used to

execute Execution, in capital punishment Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. The sentence (law), s ...

an individual by

electrocution Electrocution is death or severe injury caused by electric shock from electric current passing through the body. The word is derived from "electro" and "execution", but it is also used for accidental death. The term "electrocution" was coined ...

), and a fatal current of between 500 and 2,000 milliamps. Even a tenth or a hundredth of that current could be fatal. Because of the galvanic isolation in the transformer, a

ground fault circuit interrupter A residual-current device (RCD), residual-current circuit breaker (RCCB) or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical safety device, more specifically a form of Earth-leakage circuit breaker, that interrupts an electrical circuit ...

(GFCI) or residual-current device (RCD) will not be able to break the circuit in the event of an electric shock. A 2020 review noted that the mortality rate of fractal wood burning cases was "significant" and "exceedingly high". The

American Association of Woodturners The American Association of Woodturners (AAW) is the principal organization in the United States supporting the art and craft of woodturning. It is sometimes stylized as American Association of Wood Turners (AAW). Established in 1986 and headqua ...

has, on safety grounds, banned any demonstrations or sales related to the practice at its events, strongly discourages any of its chapters from promoting the practice, and refuses to publish information about the practice other than safety warnings. The Association of Woodturners of Great Britain has instituted the same policy. Other organisations that have warned against the practice include: * Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America * The Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario *

Electrical Safety Foundation International The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Rosslyn, Virginia, US dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety at home, school, and in the workplace. Founded in 1994 as a cooperat ...

WorkSafe New Zealand WorkSafe is New Zealand's primary workplace health and safety regulator. WorkSafe has over 550 staff based across New Zealand who work to lift New Zealand's health and safety performance and support workers to return home healthy and safe. W ...

* The

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

electrical safety regulator * The

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

electrical safety regulator{{cite web, url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/electrical-safety-warning-over-deadly-wood-art-device, title=Electrical safety warning over deadly wood art device, date=2020-06-23, accessdate=2022-07-01, website=commerce.wa.gov.au

References

External links

Video discussing the dangers of fractal wood burning
by

Ann Reardon How To Cook That (often stylised as H2CT) is an Australian website and YouTube baking channel that provides video recipes on baking and decorating themed cakes, desserts, chocolate creations and other confectionery. Launched as a website in 2011 ...

Artistic techniques Electrical safety Woodworking techniques