All About Wood Furniture

Solid woods seem to have the best reputation for quality and endurance, but this is not entirely true. In the furniture industry, the term “solid wood” means that all of the exposed parts of a piece are made from one type of wood, while the interior frame may be composed of another type. Often, several types of woods are used in the construction of one piece of furniture.

Solid wood construction is not immune to environmental conditions. Even when cut, solid wood absorbs and loses moisture, which can cause drying, cracking, and warping in a piece. This was mostly the case in older furniture, when modern drying techniques were not available. Today a combination of air and kiln drying helps prevent this problem. Kiln-drying reduces the moisture content of wood to between 6% and 8%, which minimizes expansion, thereby improving dimensional stability. Modern use of air conditioners and humidifiers also prevents woods from warping and cracking. Solid wood furniture also tends to be more expensive, not because it is the premium method, but because more wood is consumed in the process of selecting useable pieces.

Veneering is a centuries-old process from which some of the finest and most expensive furniture in the world is made. Veneer is a thin sheet of wood that is glued and positioned by hand onto a solid board. It is used to create patters and decorative effects. Veneers allow the use of more rare woods, such as burls, that in solid form are not very stable, but as veneers can enhance and beautify a surface. Veneers can also cover large expanses, such as dining room tables, and allow for a consistency in grain and pattern.

In the past, glues that were used to adhere the thin sheets of wood to the core tended to dry out and cause chipping and cracking. Today’s synthetic glues are not as susceptible to drying out, and the boards that they are fastened to are actually harder than solid woods, making them far more durable. Veneers conserve our natural resources because more of the tree can be used.

Mixing wood particles, chips, or flakes with synthetic resins and binding agents combined with extreme heat and pressure forms chipboard, particleboard, fiberboard, or engineered wood panels. Engineered wood is most commonly used on the backs of case pieces and doors, or as cores for veneered pieces. Engineered wood is incredibly strong and resistant to warping.

All woods fall under two general categories: hard woods and soft woods. Some common woods that are frequently used in furniture construction are:

Hardwoods

Maple – An extremely hard, fine-textured wood used extensively for American colonial furniture and contemporary furnishings. Color is basically light although some maple has a reddish cast; it can also be stained to simulate cherry wood which has similar grain.

Cherry – A hard and sturdy wood with a reddish-brown tone and tight, straight grain. It is known for its rich, red coloring which darkens with age, and is used in 18^th century American and French styles, both as a solid and veneer.

Ash – A native hardwood, used widely for furniture frames because of its strength and durability. Ash has a prominent oak-like grain and also resembles hickory or pecan.

Beech – A hard, strong wood, similar in appearance to maple. This wood is often used for frames, bent or turned parts, and veneers.

Birch – One of the toughest American woods, with fine grain and pleasing light tone similar to maple. Birch can offer a variety of grain patterns (straight, curly, and wavy) and can be stained to resemble walnut or mahogany.

Oak – A strong, hard-wearing durable wood with a pronounced texture and grain. Oak’s color range runs from whitish to softer reds and is the most popular wood for country, casual and Mission furniture.

Mahogany – Close-grained with excellent woodworking and finishing qualities, mahogany is a wood whose colors range from tan to a reddish brown, and is closely associated with formal 18^th century and Victorian furniture. It is used both as a solid and for veneers.

Walnut – A highly desirable wood used for both cabinet woods and veneers. Walnut carves and holds its shape well; veneers have distinctive and handsome grains.

Poplar – A medium hardness wood.

Softwoods

Pine – Pine is a soft, knotty wood light in color. Pine furniture is very popular in bedrooms, dining rooms and family rooms to achieve a lighter, airier feel to the room.

Cedar – A fragrant, knotty softwood used mainly to line chests and drawers.