Furniture Package Maker

Materials Used in Furniture Manufacturing

It is a good idea to know the different kinds of material used in manufacturing furniture. The type of wood or grade of fabric will make a big difference in the quality of furniture and maybe more importantly the price.


Types of wood used in Furniture Manufacturing:

When shopping for wood furniture online most people focus on the type of wood used to make the furniture. An item made with oak is no better than furniture made from cherry wood or walnut. The main focus should not be so much placed in whether the furniture is solid or veneered due to the fact that particle-board with a real wood veneer is found in most furniture nowadays, but fiber board with an engineered veneer wont hold up as well. So since the majority is a combination of both in mid to high furniture.

As far as the finish most manufactures choose the wood for manufacturing based on grain, price and availability, then will make wood to whatever finish that is desired. Most people that work with wood know that the wood grain and type will affect the finish tint, so the furniture manufacturer will bleach the wood so this is not an issue. The concern lies with either solid or veneered if the manufacture has not prepared wood through proper drying, both air and kiln dried play a factor in woods moisture level. When the wood cracks, veneer lifts or bubbles or the drawer swells are all affected by this main factor.

The next factor to consider are the small details, the type of wood joints, metal drawer glides or wood to wood, dust bottoms made of wood or cardboard? Are the furniture back panels screwed in or stapled? It is these details and the importance of the quality that will determine pricing.

The main consideration when buying wood furniture is function. This simply stated means that a dining chair will have to hold up to rigorous use in a kitchen but will last longer in a formal dining room. Entertainment centers if will you be using an older style television and need to move the unit will require a higher quality than one designed for newer televisions. When considering the bedroom remember that guest rooms not frequently used and kids room, did you get a larger bed planning for long term? The fact is most beds have metal frames and supports and except for wear on drawer glides even very modest priced bedrooms tend to last. One other consideration when dealing with most wood furniture is to try to order in complete groups if you know at the time you will need additional pieces. Depending on the furniture batch the manufacturer makes up inventory from this wood batch and when they run a second batch a while down the road you could possibly run into finish variations, also wood exposed to sunlight might lighten and give you issues. If it is a matter of money available then ask if you can wait till you can purchase all together or if this is not an issue and will not bother you.


Quick list of common wood used in furniture manufacturing:

Ash Wood - A dense, hard wood, ranging from blond to light brown color, with a long grain that resembles oak. This type of wood is good for exposed pieces that require strength

Birch Wood – A hard grained wood, usually light brown in color, which takes most finishes well, making it a good choice when imitating look of the more expensive woods like mahogany

Cherry Wood – A durable hardwood, with a reddish brown color. Which is different from the most common mistake, of the deep red and high gloss finish referred to as cherry. Due to small size this wood it has a higher price point.

Cocobolo Wood – A dark brown wood with a purple cast that is used mostly in contemporary furniture manufacturing

Mahogany Wood – A reddish color and favorite for furniture manufactures due to variance in grain pattern and high sheen. This wood is imported and comes from South America is a true mahogany and imported from Africa or the Philippines is not a true mahogany and should be much less in price

Maple Wood – A hard and straight grained wood that comes also in curly or birds eye, Blond in color and one of the most widely used woods used in contemporary furniture

Oak Wood - A hard and durable wood that is probably the most used wood in furniture manufacturing. It has over 50 varieties of oak like red and white oak

Pine Wood – A softer wood, which is readily available and easily stained making this a very affordable wood. Mostly used in rustic furniture manufacturing, naturally light in color

Rosewood – A reddish-brown wood with black streaks, making it a great decorative wood found in fine furniture

Shesham Wood – A medium brown wood with deep grains, a hardwood used in furniture manufactured in India

Teak Wood – A hard wood that is even more durable than oak. Used in contemporary furniture and outdoor furniture. This wood ranges from yellow to brown due to fact that it darkens in sun exposure

Zebra Wood – A golden yellow wood with dark brown stripes. It is often used for decorative furniture


Wood shopping Guide - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCDbrS9FQHo