Forming, Shaping and Finishing Office Furniture From Hardwood
Posted: Saturday, February 10, 2007
by Garnet Bailey
L-MAD Canada Inc.
All woods used in the manufacture of desk accessories fall into the category of hardwood. Although we have all heard the terms "hardwood" and "softwood", many people do not realize the terms do not refer to the relative hardness of these common materials. Rather, the terms refer to the families of trees the woods come from, known as deciduous and coniferous families.
The fascinating nature of the grain patterns of hardwoods have traditionally dictated the use of hardwood in the manufacture of furnishings. By contrast, most softwoods tend to possess little discernible grain pattern. Softwoods, due to their more prolific growth, tend to be used for larger products, most notably in the construction and housing industries.
Because natural materials are susceptible to changes in their environment, changes in size and form are to be expected as environmental conditions change, even well after the wood has been harvested, processed and put into service. This can create undesirable effects in the finished product ranging from simple swelling to more catastrophic effects such as twisting, bending and cracking.
In addition, the configurations of material required for a product often is not available from the shapes and forms of the raw material. This causes us to reform the woods into larger or compound shapes by a number of joining and bonding techniques. Each of these techniques has been developed to accomplish certain specific results needed by the end product such as style, shaping, strength and to account for otherwise inevitable effects such as warpage and shrinkage, while putting the exquisite features of the material to the best use possible. Such techniques also make use of various fastening devices and special purpose glues and bonding agents.
It is often the case that the raw material is not well suited for a particular product part. In these cases, ingenious combinations of materials can be combined to outperform other solutions. For example, thin sheets of wood glued in layers with the grains perpendicular to each other can form a single piece with superior strength properties and resistance to cracking and warping. This is called ply construction and can take the form of several layers for enhanced strength characteristics.
As beautiful as natural wood grains are, they are very vulnerable to damage and discoloration if not protected once the product is completed. To protect and even enhance the natural beauty, a number of finishing alternatives have been developed over the years. These range from oils and waxes to paint formulations and sealing lacquers and can be clear or shaded to enhance and modify the natural wood grain colors. Most common for high end wooden furniture pieces is a lacquer coating that provides an overall enrichment of the wood grain and also protects the wood surface, diverting moisture, dirt and other contaminates that can spoil the overall appearance of the wood grain surfaces. This fine lacquer finish is used on all the SuccessImage desk accessories and office accessories, such as these hardwood office wall files and these hardwood desk top paper trays, to ensure a long lasting, beautiful finish.
No matter how the basic materials are combined, formed, sculpted and machined, the end result will be a product that displays all the beautiful characteristics of the natural woods and grains. And, with careful and sophisticated bonding and allowance for the natural changes of woods, the final product will be maintenance free and reliable and retain it's beauty and usefulness for decades!
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