| Tips
on Buying Wood Furniture:
Solid Wood means that all exposed parts of the furniture
are made of solid board, either softwood or hardwood lumber.
No veneers or particle boards are used. When solid boards
are used in furniture construction, they are glued together
side by side along the edges. Often, a number of boards are
used to make the wood more stable and reduce the chance of
warping. By following a seam to the end you can always identify
solid board, where you will find the "end" grain.
Many veneers are glued over the edges to look like solid wood,
but they will always be faced on the end and show no end grain.
Remember, "all-wood furniture" is not necessarily
solid wood. A veneer can help you achieve the look you desire
at a cost lower than solid lumber.
Artificial veneers can be overlaid on plywood or particleboard.
A plywood core is lighter, less expensive and more forgiving
if damaged, but it can swell if it gets wet. If damaged, particleboard
will often fracture because the material is so hard it cannot
absorb a shock.
There are three types of glue-up in most solid wood furniture:
Plank is made of pieces that have the same length but varying
widths.
Laminated is made of pieces that have the same length and
width.
Butcher block is made of pieces with varying length but the
same width.
Veneer is a thin layer of wood applied in sheets over underlying
layers of wood, plywood or particleboard. Plywood is made
of thin layers of solid wood glued over each other with grains
running at 90-degree angles to produce a strong core. A "real
wood" veneer is often glued on top.
Gluing chips and particles of wood together and pressing them
into sheets, upon which a veneer can be glued, makes particleboard.
The specific density of the wood determines hardness, not
by whether a tree is classified as a "hardwood"
or "softwood." Hardwoods come from deciduous trees.
(e.g. maple, oak, alder)
Softwoods come from conifers. (e.g. pine, spruce, fir) Some
hardwoods, such as balsa wood, are softer than some softwoods,
such as pine.
Tips:
Drawers: Look inside, behind and underneath to assess materials
and workmanship. Are interior surfaces smooth and free of
excess glue? Do drawers move freely yet have automatic stops?
Are drawer fronts attached with dovetail joints? Are there
support blocks on drawer bottoms? Is the hardware straight?
Dustproofing between all drawers:This simple barrier prevents
air, dust, pens and papers from passing between drawers. You
shouldn't be able to take the drawers out and see one big
open space
Drawer construction is generally a good indication of overall
furniture quality. Some drawers have no guides. The lack of
guides allows more "play" and can cause the drawer
to bind when it is opened and closed..
Others have wood-to-wood center guides, nylon-to-wood center
guides, side-mounted roller guides or center-mounted metal
guides.
Roller guides and center-mounted metal guides normally have
built-in drawer stops, and some have lifetime warranties for
drawer operation.
Many drawers have glue-blocks to strengthen the bottom. Most
ready-to-finish chests have wood drawer bottoms not always
the case with prefinished furniture.
Now, as in the past, doweled and dovetailed drawer joints
indicate a high degree of craftsmanship. However, modern machine
technology, good bonding glue and pneumatically driven staples
coated with resin have afforded savings in construction while
providing durability.
CHAIRS. If possible, turn them upside down and take a good
look. Are joints snug and free of excess glue and filler?
Are joints reinforced by nails or screws? Do slats and rungs
fit snugly? Look for arm-and-leg or back-and-leg components
that are crafted from a single piece of wood. Of course, the
piece should feel sturdy, free of wobbles and creaks.
TABLES. If the table has leaves, make sure you can add and
remove them easily in the store. See that corners are reinforced
with blocks and legs are attached securely. Obviously, the
table should not wobble or bend under pressure
Levelers on the bottoms of large pieces of furniture: Good
furniture is made "square" (that's a craftsman's
term). But houses settle, and some houses have been known
to be made a little crooked. Those of you who have ever tried
to put up wallpaper (especially if the wallpaper has lines)
know what we mean. Levelers are a neat way to make up for
all of nature's and house builders' idiosyncrasies
Checklist
for buying wood furniture
- Doors and drawers fit well
- Drawers have glides and stops
- Drawers glide easily when pulled
- Drawers have dust panels
- Drawer corners are joined securely
- Insides of drawers are smooth and snag free
- Long shelves have center supports
- Doors swing open easily without squeaking
or rubbing
- Long doors are attached with sturdy hinges
- Hardware is secure and strong
- No rough edges on hardware
- Interior lights operate easily
- Entertainment units have holes for electrical
cords
- Heavy balanced feeling when table is rocked
- Table leaves fit properly
- Table leaves match finish and grain of the
table
- Finish feels smooth to the touch (except
distressed finishes)
Distressed finishes have randomly spaced dark marks
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