Objective 5 02 CRITIQUE components of quality furniture

Objective 5. 02: CRITIQUE components of quality furniture construction

Understanding furniture construction will help you choose the highest quality furniture for your money

WOOD FURNITURE

• A wood grain, or pattern, is formed as a tree grows • Wood grain influences the construction of furniture.

SOLID WOOD: Whole pieces of the same wood used to make exposed furniture surfaces.

SOLID WOOD Advantages Disadvantages • Can be sanded and • Expensive refinished • Can crack, swell, and warp if exposed to humidity.

VENEER (plywood): 3 -7 thin layers of fine wood glued to an inexpensive base.

VENEERS (plywood) Advantages • Cheaper than solid wood • Resists shrinking & warping (losing its straightness) • Strong Disadvantages • Difficult to repair – cannot be sanded or refinished.

PRESSED WOOD (particle board) • Wood shavings, chips, and sawdust mixed with glue • May be used as the base for veneers.

PRESSED WOOD (particle board) Advantages • Cheap • Tough and durable Disadvantages • Not pretty!

BASIC FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION

• Joint – the place where one piece of wood is connected to another • The joint determines the furniture’s strength.

Mortise-and-Tenon Strongest of all joints Cannot wobble and difficult to pull out Joins legs and rails in chairs and beds Difficult to mark and cut out.

Dowel (can be double or triple) Quick and easy to make Drilling accurate holes difficult.

Dovetail Very strong and resists being pulled apart Good for joining all sides of drawers Difficult to mark and cut out.

Tongue and Groove Easy to measure and cut Invisible Used for tables and floors Tongues can break easily; cannot be disassembled.

Butt Easiest to make Weakest type of joint.

Corner Blocks Added to make joints more secure, such as the frames of chairs and tables.

Mitered J Aesthetically pleasing Not very strong.

FURNITURE FINISHES

Furniture finishes protect wood, and enhance or change the wood color.

Stain: adds color without covering the grain.

Top coats are clear and add protection.

Types of top coats • Polyurethane – a liquid plastic until it is dry; comes in satin and glossy; dries fast; apply with a brush, roller, or cloth. • Varnish – a top coat for raw wood used on or near water; apply with a brush • Lacquer - gives a high gloss finish; extremely durable; applied by a sprayer.

Paint: covers the wood and is the least expensive finish

UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE

Upholstered Furniture Components • Hard wood frame secured with a corner block • Hand-tied springs to prevent sagging • Padding • Cushions • Fabric.

OTHER FURNITURE MATERIALS

Plastic • Inexpensive, lightweight, easy to clean.

Metals: wrought iron, steel, aluminum, and chrome

Rattan (Wicker) and Bamboo combine natural wood frames with woven stems or branches. Rattan is a vine. Wicker is a weaving process.

Glass should be tempered - break into small pebbles instead of sharp pieces.

Wood Plastic Metal Rattan Bamboo Glass