Design Resources and Tips
Selecting wood furniture that fits your life style, home decor or
functional purpose can lead to a myriad of emotions from fun and exciting to baffling and frustrating.
You always want to know that you are spending your hard earned money for furniture that is of the quality you expect
so that it will last. The information you find on these pages will help to guide you through that decision making process by
providing you with the knowledge to make an informed purchase which will express your individualistic style.
Furniture styles
American furniture styles were immensely influenced European immigrants that settled in the United States
since the beginning of the colonies on the Eastern seaboard. Since that time, these styles have diverged and evolved through
influences of important eras and time periods of U.S. history. By studying these periods, you will have a better idea of how
these furniture periods have evolved and gain information about the
styles you find here and how you can decorate with a given
style in mind.
Wood Species and Types
Selecting a wood species for your new furniture can be even more of a challenge than understanding what period it is derived from. For
example, do you want your new table made from a Hard or Soft Maple, which are different species, or a Curly, Birdseye or Tiger Maple,
which are different characteristics of the species.
America's temperate climates produce forests with hundreds of hardwood species. Although Cherry, Birch and Walnut are all types of
hardwoods, they are distinct species of trees. Any of the commercially available hardwoods can be used for cabinets, furniture, mouldings
and other millwork -- it's simply a question of taste, preference and availability.
Softwoods, or conifers, on the other hand are primarily used for construction purposes or outdoor applications such as decks, lawn
furniture or building siding. Some softwoods like Cedar or Redwood for example, have natural characteristics that prevent rotting.
Visit our Wood Page for additional information that you will find very helpful in selecting a wood species for your new furniture.
Wood Finishes
Wood Finishing, in general, involves three main steps, sanding, staining and finishing. Now,
I said in general. Most people refer to finishing as a loose term
for any chemical applied to the surface of wood, where the term
"finishing" actually refers to the final clear coat/coats that sit
on top of the wood. In my experience, the most important part of the
finishing process is the initial sanding phase. Any craftsman knows
that if done incorrectly any chemical applied will only accentuate
the imperfections. Through the history of woodworking, woodcrafters
have used a wide array of chemicals to embellish and tint the natural wood, such as oil and wax. Tung oil is one of the earliest
known wood finishes dating all the way back to 400 B.C. and is still used today.
There are three main categories of wood treatment, paint, stain and finish.
Each has it place in furniture making and is really a personal preference on which you choose. Here in this forum, The Craftsmans
Woodshop will provide you a summary of those finishes in use today that can be applied to your new piece of custom furniture. To
learn more just click on the link below.
Notes on Quality
Wood furniture can range in styles, colors, shapes, sizes and intricacy. The furniture you invest in is a personal
reflection of your style and decorating sense. In addition to the
plethora of styles, wood furniture is also produced in varying levels of
quality. This leads us to the question of how we spot quality furniture that you will be happy to live with and pass on to future
generations. When investigating furniture quality learn to observe or ask about the following when consulting with your craftsman.
Wood furniture is generally made of either solid wood, wood veneers or a combination thereof. High quality furniture is made using hardwoods
such as Oak, Cherry, Maple, Birch, Poplar or any other type of deciduous tree. Furniture made of softwood from coniferous trees are more
susceptible
to dents and scratches but yet has it's place in the production of quality furniture like
Adirondack chair or other outdoor furniture. Using a
veneer is by no means always indicating a lower quality product. Many high end furniture piece produced today contain some type of
veneer application. Veneer allow a craftsman to use expensive or exotic species in their designs for a fraction of the cost of solid wood.
Veneer wood products are available in a wide selection of grade levels and the craftspeople you find here only use that of the highest quality.
A great place to start the examination of a piece of furniture is by inspecting the joints. Joints also can be made using a variety of techniques such
as the mortise and tenon, doweling or dovetailing. Each type has it place and time for use and each has it's pros and cons. When inspecting a piece
of furniture the joints should be tight and have no gaps. High quality pieces will have tight and smooth joints even in hidden areas. Glues used
today are far superior to those of yesteryear and produce exceptionally strong joints.
Inspect a drawer. The drawer construction is a great indicator of furniture quality. Does the drawer contain dovetail joints or another type
of locking joint that will prevent it from coming apart? Does it have solid wood sides and a solid bottom of either plywood veneer or hardwood?
Beware of drawers constructed with fiberboard bottoms as they tend to sag over time. Drawers and doors should operate smoothly and not bind.
The finish should be smooth and blemish free. Stain and finish should be applied without streaks, cloudiness or blotches or run lines. The
finish is generally applied in multiple coats and you should not be able to tell how many were applied. Consult with your
craftsman about
the type of finish to be used on your handcrafted piece to ensure that you attain the quality you expect.
Warranties
Be sure to consult with your craftsman to learn about the warranty offered on your new furniture piece. Any high quality craftsman
will stand behind their product so be sure to inquire. Although the owner of this website provides no warranties either expressed or
implied on the products produced by the craftspeople located on this website, the products you find here are of the highest standards of
quality and are reviewed and approved prior to placement within these pages. Please review our
About Us page for more information.