What Makes Good Wood?
Wood. Without a doubt, it's man's most important building block. For centuries we've used it for everything from massive houses and ships down to a simple sheet of paper. Wood's natural and timeless beauty can be seen especially well in the furniture that fills our living spaces. No matter what the design or style, the warm welcome of a quality piece of wood furniture can make all the difference to a room.
Being so fundamental, wood furniture sounds like a fairly straightforward idea - but there's more to it than that. A board could be solid wood or plywood with a veneer, and both would still be considered "wood" furniture. Different types of wood will stand the test of time in different ways. Industrial Revolution takes a look at what makes good wood.
Solid Wood
- Solid wood is any piece of wood in which all surfaces of the wood are from the same plank just as it was cut from the log. Solid wood furniture is the most expensive, but usually more beautiful.
- Most fine solid wood furniture is made from hardwoods (deciduous trees), such as oak, maple, walnut, or cherry. They are quite durable and have beautiful and distinctive grain patterns. Softwoods (coniferous trees), such as pine or cedar, are lighter, but more likely to dent and scratch.
- For an item to be considered solid wood, all exposed wood surfaces on the piece must be wood.
- Because of its durability, solid wood is a better choice for high-traffic areas where the furniture is more likely to be bumped or scratched.
- If an item is advertised as solid wood, you should be able to see the wood's end-grain at the ends of each plank, and there should be similar patterns in the grain on the top and bottom of the plank. If the grain of the wood curves so that the end grain appears on the top or bottom surface of the plank, this may cause a weak point in the wood.
- Industrial Revolution's solid wood furniture includes such products as the magnificent dining set pictured at right.
Veneered plywood
- Plywood is made of thin layers of solid wood glued over each other with grains running at 90-degree angles.
- A veneer is a thin sheet of wood, usually chosen to emphasize an attractive grain pattern.
- Plywood is less expensive and actually stronger than solid wood, and it will resist warping, checking and swelling. It is, however, more difficult to repair, and cannot be easily refinished.
- The process of veneering has been around for centuries. The quality of modern veneers can range from inexpensive simulated woodgrain prints to exquisite hardwood inlays that last a lifetime.
Solid wood and veneered wood both have their advantages and disadvantages. In general, your choice should come down to your needs and preferences. Consider how the piece will be used in your home, and what will best suit your style and budget. Above all, look for quality workmanship: your greatest satisfaction will be from knowing that your fine piece of furniture will last you for many years to come. |
