Wood furniture can be made from two different categories of wood. Hardwoods are the trees that lose their leaves at autumn and include poplar, rosewood, ash, cherry maple, pecan, teak, walnut, oak, and mahogany. Softwoods are your pine trees which include cedar, redwood, pine, cypress and fir. Sometimes your wood furniture will be made from two different types of wood, such as solid cheery in all of the exposed areas with a covered oak frame.
Expensive wood furniture is commonly constructed of fine hardwoods like cherry, oak, or maple. Pine can also be used, as it’s the hardest of the softwoods used in furniture building. Wood furniture in the middle price range is usually constructed from a variety of different woods. The wood used to make the furniture is typically bonded together to build the many different pieces you can find. Bonding, gluing, mixing wood particles together, and ply construction are the most common ways to join pieces of wood together to make the furniture.
Wood outdoor furniture gets its final, beautiful look by using a process called veneering. This process was used by the Ancient Egyptians and the many pieces of funerary furniture that has been found in the Valley of the Kings are a testament to this technique. Veneering is done by layering decorative woods over particle board, fiberboard, plywood or solid cores. This process makes your wood furniture more flexible and woodworkers are able to match grain patterns or all inlays into the furniture that are not found in nature. Veneering allows you to purchase expensive, rare wood furniture at an affordable price.
Today’s technology allows the wood furniture manufacturer an easier method of achieving the look of veneering without the cost. Natural wood grains can be engraved or printed on surfaces such as high density fiberboard to get the same look as a genuine veneer. Durable, inexpensive, and durable, it will not last as long as genuine wood furniture, but it will provide you with nice furniture when you are on a limited budget.
The finish that is on your wood furniture is the last thing a furniture manufacturer applies to the piece. It will give the piece a finished look by providing an even coat ad color. A good finish will require several coats of paint, oil, lacquer, and wax to achieve the desired color. The finish on your wood furniture will also help protect it somewhat from normal wear and tear. To keep it looking as good as the day you purchased it, ask how you should care for it and what products you should use on it for the best results.