I think we all know how frustrating it can be to go out and purchase a new piece of furniture only to have it falling apart on you within a few short years. Today’s wood furniture is not always the best quality. Most furniture that is “new” is generally made from plywood or engineered wood. You also will find that a lot of today’s furniture is held together with screws, nails, and glue which do not make for the best quality. Since we are focusing on furniture this month we want to start with educating you on how to determine a quality piece of wood furniture that is going to last for many years.
Composition of wood furniture-
Learn the difference between hard woods and soft woods. Hard wood means “from a deciduous tree”. Soft wood means “from a coniferous tree”.It does not mean that the wood is “hard” or “soft”. What you want in a lasting piece of furniture is wood that is reasonably scratch resistant.
You can do a simple test to understand the wood’s resistance by drawing a thin line with your finger nail. If it makes a visible dent on the piece of furniture then you know it is not the quality you are looking for.
Construction of wood furniture-
The joint construction is the best way to determine the quality of the furniture. Anything held together by staples nails, or glue is going to be low quality. The best joints are dove tail (interlocking square-ish teeth) and mortise and tenon (narrowed end of one piece inserted into a hole in the other). Also, look for thin sheets of wood in between drawers, they improve structural strength.
If anyone has any questions about quality of wood we welcome your questions and comments!
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