WoOdwork

Our solid wood is carefully prepared, and finished with the finest veneers

WoOdwork

The Wood Workshops

With the advances in modern technology and the demands of industry, woodwork as a field has changed. The development of Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) Machines, for example, has made us able to mass-produce and reproduce products faster, with less waste, and often more complex in design than ever before. CNC wood routers can carve complicated and highly detailed shapes into flat stock. Skilled fine woodworking, however, remains a craft pursued by many and there remains a demand for hand crafted bespoke furniture.

Historically, woodworkers relied upon the woods native to their region, until transportation and trade innovations made more exotic woods available to the craftsman. Woods are typically sorted into three basic types: hardwoods typified by tight grain and derived from broadleaf trees, softwoods from coniferous trees, and man-made materials such as plywood and MDF.

woodworking project, furniture making, carpentry joints, dovetail joint

Types of solid woods

We work mostly with a few types of wood to construct the frames for furniture, with each having it’s own distinct quality and finish. It usual for us to stain these hard wood elements to match the finish of any veneers that are used on the piece, however some pieces, like a chair frame for example, could be made entirely of a solid wood frame.

SOLID WOOD

Wood Selection

There are many factors to consider when deciding what type of wood to use for a project. One of the most important is the workability of the wood: the way in which it responds when worked by hand or tools, the quality of the grain, and how it responds to adhesives and finishes. When the workability of wood is high, it offers a lower resistance when cutting and has a diminished blunting effect on tools. Highly workable wood is easier to manipulate into desired forms. If the wood grain is straight and even, it will be much easier to create strong and durable glued joints. Additionally, it will help protect the wood from splitting when nailed or screwed. Coarse grains require a lengthy process of filing and rubbing down the grain to produce a smooth result.

Another important factor is the durability of the wood, especially in regards to moisture. If the finished project will be exposed to moisture (e.g. outdoor projects) or high humidity or condensation (e.g. in kitchens or bathrooms), then the wood needs to be especially durable in order to prevent rot. Because of their oily qualities, many tropical hardwoods such as teak and iroko are popular for such applications.