Furniture Materials Chapter 15. Materials Wood Plastic Metal Glass.
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Transcript of Furniture Materials Chapter 15. Materials Wood Plastic Metal Glass.
Materials Can be used alone or in combination with
other materials Furniture should be safe and durable Understanding furniture construction can help
you choose the highest-quality furniture for your money
Wood in Furniture Most common material used in furniture
construction Case goods
Mainly constructed from wood Tables, desks, dressers, headboards, chest, etc
You can find wood used as the structural framework of furniture that is covered by another material
Classification of Wood Type and quality of wood grain Hardwood versus softwood Solid versus bonded wood Type of wood joints Finished versus unfinished wood
These factors affect the quality of the piece of furniture.
Wood Grain A pattern formed as a tree grows The stump of a tree has a beautiful, irregular growth
of the tree’s roots Lumber is cut to show off the grain Crotch wood
Special grain caused by branches growing out from the trunk of a tree
Burls Woody, flattened outgrowths on trees, have a unique and
highly prized grain
Hardwood Comes from deciduous trees or trees that lose
their leaves Most popular…
Walnut, mahogany, pecan, cherry, maple, and oak Does not dent easily Usually stronger that softwood and cost more
Softwood Comes from evergreen trees or trees that do
not shed their leaves Does not have as beautiful a grain as
hardwood Dents easily Most common…
Cedar, redwood, pine, fir, and spruce Some softwood is harder than hardwood
Solid Wood Means that all exposed parts of a piece of
furniture are made of whole pieces of wood Usually expensive (especially if made from
hardwood) Has a tendency to warp, swell, and crack
Bonded Wood Wood that has been bonded by glue and
pressure Veneered wood (plywood)
Created by bonding three, five, or seven thin layers of wood to one another
Pressed wood (particleboard) Made of shavings, veneer scraps, chips, ad other
small pieces of wood
Wood Joints How the wood pieces are fastened or joined
Glue should be used on all joints to add strength
Mortise-and-tenon joint One of the strongest joints Glued tenon fits tightly into the mortise (hole) No nails or screws
are used Commonly used to
join legs or rails to
tables, chairs, and
headboards
Double-dowel joints Very common and very strong Glued wooden dowels fit into drilled holes in
both pieces of wood
Tongue-and-groove joints Created when a tongue is cut on one board
and a matching groove is cut on another Joints are invisible if they are made skillfully Used where several
boards are joined
length-wise (tabletops)
Corner blocks Small pieces of wood attached between
corner boards Support and reinforce the joint Used in construction of chairs and tables Keep one side from pulling away from the other
Finished Wood Most are already finished Finished furniture has been treated in one or
more ways to protect and improve the appearance of the wood surface
Some finishes include stain, sealers, waxes, and paints
It can also be used to enhance an existing furniture piece by applying decorative finishes
Unfinished Wood The wood is left in its natural state following
construction Untreated wood surfaces appeal to those who
want to finish the furniture themselves
Plastic Usually less expensive than wood Lightweight, sturdy, and easy to clean Looks best in modern and contemporary
settings Plastic used for furniture should not imitate
other material, such as wood
Metal Popular for both indoor and outdoor furniture Wrought iron, steel, cast aluminum, and
chrome are popular Metal is often combined with other materials
(wood, fabric, or glass)