Wood Furniture
The quality of the wood used for furniture is measured by it's beauty, it's stability (how well it wears over time), how easy it is to work with, how well it resists shrinking and cracking and how well it takes stain and finish.
Hardwoods: hardwoods are not necessarily hard, nor are softwoods always soft. A hardwood comes from a broad leafed, or non-needled tree, like maple, cherry or mahogany. These woods are frequently used in furniture construction and usually don't have a hard surface. This can indicate a greater strength or stability but those very qualities can also make hardwoods difficult to work with for certain purposes, such as intricate carving and detail work. Softwoods: Softwoods or wood from needle bearing trees such as pine or cedar, are also used in furniture making, frequently when easily carved or worked wood is needed. Since their surfaces are often soft, they are more susceptible to marks and dings, but these marks can result in a weathered or worn quality that is appropriate or appealing in certain pieces. Solid Wood: The term Solid wood does not mean that one single piece of wood was used throughout the piece, nor does it necessarily mean that all the wood throughout the piece is solid. Generally the term means that all the exposed pieces of wood are solid; those areas of the piece that are hidden from view, like the back of an armoire, for example, may be something else like plywood. Plywood: Plywood is made from thin sheets of wood material that have been bonded together, usually with heat and glue. Frequently plywood will be surfaced with a high grade veneer. Construction of 5-ply or 7-ply boards can offer great strength, stability and durability, so the use of plywood (as opposed to solid wood) in furniture construction is not necessarily a bad thing. Some plywoods are stronger and lighter than wood, and they are usually less expensive. For these reasons, manufacturers sometimes use plywood in non- visible areas of furniture construction where strength is paramount. |
Finishes can be decorative or protective or both. Oil and wax protect while giving a soft, matte finish. Oil and shellac or varnish give a soft, slightly higher sheen and also help protect wood. Lacquer gives the highest gloss and hard coating. Any finish should be evenly applied, without apparent brush strokes or drips.
Stains: A stain penetrates wood, and provides an even color without hiding the grain or decorative figuring of the wood. When purchasing stained wood furniture, be careful that the stain has not been applied to make an inferior wood resemble a good one. Stain colors can mimic almost any wood, but it should always be clear at the time of purchase whether "mahogany" for example refers to the finish or the wood. A stain should be an enhancement not a disguise. For an even, long wearing finish, the process entails many steps. To prepare the wood, it needs to be sponged, sanded and dusted to open the wood pores, clean the wood and bring out the natural figuring. Next, the stain is hand applied and allowed to dry thoroughly. Then it is sanded and rubbed down. This process is repeated, often as many as fifteen times on fine furniture. Lesser pieces will use fewer coats or machine applied stains. Finishes should be smooth, bubble free and crack free (unless the piece is distressed). But it is also important to understand that furniture stains are not permanent and unchangeable - they fade and alter from contact with sunlight and air. Paints: Paints are intended to cover the surface of the wood, usually with opaque color. Paints can be water-based or oil-based (oil-based paint is generally used on furniture and is usually easier to clean). Paint finishes can be smooth and solid, which generally requires several coats, or distressed (weathered, pocked, or otherwise made to look old), either intentionally or through age. Lacquers: This is varnish applied to wood in numerous thin coats; after each application, the coat is allowed to dry before being polished. The resulting finish is very hard and frequently, highly glossy. Lacquer is often tinted (red and black are the most common colors), decorated, painted, gilded and inlaid. The use of lacquer originated in Asia and is closely associated with Asian furniture. |