12 tips for buying hardwood furniture

12 Tips for Buying Hardwood Furniture

by Brent Karner

Brent Karner is a master woodworker and founder of ClearLake Furniture in Ludlow, Vermont. He is a graduate of the prestigious North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts, where he fine tuned his craft.

1. Wood finish
A smooth, lasting finish requires time. Ask about the finishing process. What product was used? Is it harmful to the environment? Is the finish water-resistant? Will it withstand spills like coffee, acidic citrus juices, and red wine? What will you need to do to keep the piece looking beautiful?

2. Solid wood
Wood represents a broad range of quality, colors, and grains. Hardwood—like maple walnut, and cherry—is preferred over softer woods—like pine and spruce—for their durability and exquisite appearance. The word “solid” doesn’t guarantee exceptional quality. In some cases, the furniture is made entirely of wood, making it “solid”; however, everything but the exterior could be a lesser quality wood. Compressed wood, particle board, and veneers can all qualify as “wood”. If you’re not sure, ask! If there are veneers, ask how they are manufactured and applied because a veneer can come apart from the piece if not properly constructed.

3. Joinery methods
Checking out how the wood parts have been joined is like looking into a crystal ball. If you see staples and excess globs of glue, expect a short life. Dove-tailing and mortise and tenon joints are the two best ways to build in strength. A dovetail joint is made by joining two pieces of wood together across their width and at right angles to each other. The angular design of this technique—even without adding glue or screws—makes it virtually impossible to separate the joints. Also, these distinctive “tails” are aesthetically pleasing. A mortise and tenon adds strength and demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship. The tenon is a wood extension that fits into a deep groove, called a mortise, on the connecting piece. The joint is glued or pinned in place.

4. Drawer guides
One of the fastest ways to determine the quality of wood furniture is to open and close the drawers. How easily do they glide? Is there a built-in “stop” so that the drawer closes effortlessly? Is it mounted straight? A drawer guide is like the engine of a car. They range from “putt-putt” to “vroooom”. A quality guide is costly because it is necessary to extend the life of the piece. Also ask about the warranty on the hardware because that’s a good indicator for the life of the piece.

5. Drawer construction
The dovetail joinery is particularly valuable with drawers, because opening and closing them puts strain on the joint. Without dove-tailing, the front of the drawer could easily loosen or come apart altogether. Run your hand along the interior of the drawer. The wood should be smooth, preferably made from the same material as the exterior. A rough surface, even slightly so, indicates the craftsman was rushing through the project indicative of possible other shortcuts.
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6. Back panel
Even though the back of your hardwood furniture is not likely to show, the care that is taken to craft the piece shows on every plane. The back panel provides support for the piece. Look for nails and screws. The presence of staples on the back panel is an-other of those dreaded shortcuts!

7. Corner blocking
A corner block is a simple step in the furniture construction process. The craftsman adds small wooden blocks glued in corners to en-hance the strength and ensure that the piece remains square.

8. Table top
A beautiful table in the showroom can become unsightly at home. Bonded pieces can warp or separate, if not constructed properly. Rub your hand along the top to ensure it is perfectly smooth. Check the leaves to be sure that they fit easily and well, and that the leaves’ grain blends with the tabletop. Look at the engineering of the hardware. Does it glide
easily? Is the metal strong enough to support the table top? The corners should be reinforced with blocks and the legs should be secure. Give it a push and a tug to check for wobbling.

9. Chair legs and joints
A wobbly chair is an unsafe chair. Turn the chair upside down to see how it was crafted. Are the legs and joints sturdy? Has the craftsman used mortise and tenon joinery? Do you see dried glue seeping from the joints? Look for additional corner blocks reinforced with screws. Make sure the slats and rungs don’t wobble when you pull on them.

10. Alignment
A piece that falls out of alignment puts stress on the joints. Stand back and look at the alignment of the doors and drawers. Check out the hinges to make sure they are sturdy enough to keep the doors aligned.

11. Hardware
Hardware can be another cost-cutter. Don’t be swayed by the beauty of the wood. Look at the door pulls, handles, and hinges. Are they of good quality? Have they been adhered properly? Are they straight? Test the drawer guides and table glides.

12. Shelf supports
A bookcase or hutch in a showroom is usually bearing little weight. Think about what you’ll put there in “real life”. Are the shelves designed to safely support heavy dishes or books? Are the pins inserted into brass grommets instead of raw wood to reduce wear? Look for center supports on longer shelves and check the con-struction to ensure that you’re not risking a catastrophic collapse!

Remember, furniture is an investment. Think about the life you want from each piece of furniture before purchasing. A great piece becomes an heirloom. The lesser pieces are destined for yard sale clearance.