Mahogany is an expensive, tropical hardwood that was over harvested in the forests of South America during the last century. Today, it is successfully grown for harvesting in South America and Asia. It is very durable and often used in the hulls of boats. It is suitable for any furniture. Philippine mahogany is an inferior quality wood that is soft and inexpensive. It may be used as a top for a table or counter or as a decorative veneer.
There are several different varieties of oak that are very durable and beautiful. White oak, American Red oak and Siberian oak are a few that are very suitable for any kind of furniture. Cutting oak logs radially or towards the heart is called quarter sawn and is used mainly for decorative effect. It gives greater stability with less shrinkage and warping, but when a log is quarter sawn there is a lot of waste. For very beautiful, high quality furniture such as what the Amish produce, hand picked quarter sawn lumber is used. The waste is used for drawer sides and other areas that are not easily seen.
Hardwood is a term that describes many different kinds of wood. The trees are deciduous in temperate latitudes and evergreen in the subtropics. Softwood such as cedar, spruce and pine comes from conifers. Hardwood is durable and resists damage from food and ink as well as scratches. It can be coloured with stains of several different shades for a light or dark effect. Cherry, maple and birch are also hardwoods that are stained several different shades. Being labelled a hardwood does not necessarily mean the wood is hard, Balsa is a hardwood that is very soft and yew is a softwood that is very hard.
Softwoods such as pine and cedar also make beautiful furniture. They need special care to retain the beauty of their natural wood. Pine has knots that add to the unique attractiveness of the furniture. Knots generally are a weaker area, but pine knots are stronger than oak knots. Today, pine trees are being genetically engineered to grow without knots and farmed for lumber.
Cedar is aromatic softwood that is used for wardrobes and chests where clothing or linens are stored. It repels insects, especially moths and has a fresh odour. The fragrance will gradually dissipate over the years but can be brought back with a little sanding.
Latex is the liquid that seeps out of rubber trees. Discovered in Brazil during the 16th century, rubber trees are planted in India, Thailand and other parts of Asia. The wood is considered good for furniture because it is durable and has an attractive grain and smooth surface.
Plywood is made by laminating thin layers of wood or particleboard. It is inexpensive, but the strength depends of the process used for lamination. It is used in most low quality furniture, but there are some kinds of plywood that are made from layers of wood that are very strong. Veneers are used to cover plywood to resemble solid wood. Oak is considered a good wood for better quality veneers, but generally veneers are not considered for good quality furniture. If the veneer is only a decorative layer on one side, the other side will gradually swell and warp.
Oak and pine furniture are the two most popular woods. They are suitable for tables, chairs, TV cabinets, end tables, sideboards, beds and filing cabinets.
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