Fine Woodworking Furniture Design

Many new modern and synthetic products were introduced in the 20th and 21st century, leaving much of the traditional ways of finishing wood long forgotten. However, woodworking and finishing is an ancient craft and the oils, waxes, and resins historically used, still produce beautiful results that are hard to achieve from most any other process. Whether you are restoring an antique or building a new piece of furniture, consider using a traditional finish.

Following are finishing techniques dating from the mid-1600’s to the mid-1900’s.

OIL FINISHES

Linseed and tung oils are most commonly used, but other oils include walnut, soybean, sunflower, safflower, perilla, oiticica, and poppyseed. Linseed is pressed from the seed of the flax plant while tung oil is obtained from the nut of the tung tree. Oil finishes bring out natural characteristics of the wood and are relatively easy to apply. While it generally produces a satin sheen, applying many coats can produce a high gloss.

VARNISHES

When natural resins produced from plants, trees, and insects are added to the oil or to alcohol (spirits) a varnish is created. In most cases, spirit varnishes are more transparent and colorless, but an oil varnish is tougher and more water-resistant. Oil varnish is difficult and dangerous to make due to the hazards of heating a mixture of highly flammable materials, so consider ready-made traditional varnishes. Shellac is by far the best of the spirit varnishes and is much more flexible and durable.

FRENCH POLISH

Earlier recipes used other combinations and natural resins, but since the 1800’s, shellac, dissolved in alcohol, has been the main ingredient in a French polish. Applied with a pad, a good French-polish finish is very desirable and closely associated with fine furniture.

Shellac is made from the secretions of a lac bug and varies in color. Since it is solvent in alcohol, be careful of wine spills.

STAINS

Classic stains consist of dyes or pigments derived from plants, trees, and insects and are used to color the wood. Dye stains are transparent and soak deep into the wood, while pigment stains contain crushed minerals resembling very thin paint. Colors will fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight. However, the newer developments of synthetic aniline dyes are more lightfast and often cheaper.

Stains which chemically alter the color of the wood have also been used for centuries. These stains can be very beautiful and enhance the natural beauty of the wood, rather than obscure the grain patterns, but dangerous chemicals are used such as ammonia and tannic acid.

WAX FINISHES

Wax can be used alone as a finish or as a final protective coat. It is the most impervious to water compared to other natural products, but is relatively soft and damages easily. However, it is quickly repaired by adding another coat, protects against humidity, and produces a beautiful finish that is still preferred by many woodworkers.

Types of wax include beeswax, paraffin, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, lac wax, japan wax, and other waxes produced from trees, petroleum, minerals, and insects.

MILK PAINT

Paint has been found on early Egyptian furniture and used for centuries to protect, decorate, and to hide crude joinery. Milk paint is one type from ancient origin that is very durable and has a distinctive look not easily replicated. Colors will fade with exposure to sunlight and the natural pigments of the earth are more subdued than other types of synthetic paint.

The main ingredients in milk paint are milk, lime, and earth pigments. You can purchase milk paint in dry powdered form with authentic pigments and correct coarse texture.

While there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of finish, it is these characteristics together that help make an antique look and feel old. Before disregarding a finish based on what you might think is an undesirable effect, remember that the faded colors of a stain, the dirt embedded into wax, or the rougher texture of milk paint is was gives furniture the distinct feeling of character, age, and patina.

About the Author:

Amy Spencer, owner of Case & Space, a custom design company specializing in casework serving the San Francisco bay area. Projects include kitchen and bath cabinetry, built-in furniture for living spaces, closets and wardrobes, and freestanding furniture. For more info, visit
furniture san francisco

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Classical Finishes for Wood Furniture

Have you ever wanted to make your master bedroom a romantic getaway? Adding a little spice to this special space does not have to be difficult, it just take a little planning. The first step is to think of what your idea of a romance is; this can be anything from a secluded beach to a Mediterranean hideaway. Explore your ideas, by looking at magazines and sale papers; cutting out all the things that catch your eye. At this point do not worry about matching a particular design theme, just cut out anything that appeals to you.

Once you have all of your pieces cut out, arrange them on either a poster board or a bulletin board to give you perspective while you are creating your design. The first piece to choose is the bedroom furniture; beds are always the focal point of this space, so choose it first and build your theme around the style of the bed. Always remember that when it comes to bedroom furniture, beds are what make or break the room. For this type of design you may want to focus on more elegant bedroom furniture to accentuate the romantic theme. The fine bedroom furniture lines are slightly more expensive; however they are made of better materials, they also stand-up well to years and even generations of abuse.

When you choose your bed then it is time to choose the rest of the pieces of your room from paint to accessories. Use the style and shape of the bed to guide your other choices to ensure a fluid theme throughout your space. After you have chosen all of your items and have a budget, then the truly fun part begins, shopping!

When shopping look for bedroom furniture collections. These collections usually stay within a certain design style, and the pieces can be combined together for a better price. A bedroom furniture collection also will occasionally include some accessories; these are usually included in the price of the set, which can save your budget.

While shopping look for more elegant bedroom furniture styles to enhance the romantic theme of the space. This will normally have you shopping at fine bedroom furniture stores because with this style the craftsmanship is what makes the piece. When it is time to buy bedroom furniture remember this is an investment that will last several years so be sure to choose pieces that both fit your personality and are classic enough to enjoy for years.

Making a romantic getaway out of a master bedroom is one of the easier design projects. Planning, budgeting, and ensuring that you buy bedroom furniture you enjoy are the only three things that needs to be remembered. This is the ultimate personal space and needs to be one of the most comfortable rooms in the home. This project is meant for the imagination to run wild.

Building Drawers (Intro)

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