| With the advent of newer options everyday, | | | | and finished to perfection to give you a piece to last |
| furniture buying has turned into a real chore. It has | | | | a lifetime. |
| become really difficult to pick the best from the | | | | Another reason is that it is easy to get thousands of |
| good enough. There is metal, glass and the good old | | | | plywood sheets all looking identical. Solid wood by its |
| wood. Even the types of wood, the qualities and | | | | nature would differ slightly in terms of grain, color, |
| strengths of each, the durability and moisture | | | | shade and moisture content. Cabinet parts, to many |
| content can leave anyone terribly confused. In this | | | | people, are more attractive in the form of matched |
| situation, it is not wise to completely trust the | | | | veneer than the random color and grain matching of |
| salesperson at the local store. It is important that you | | | | solids. Some people prefer the color variation of solids |
| do your basic homework before stepping out to buy | | | | and the sometimes wild grain patterns and try to use |
| wooden furniture. What the salesperson calls solid | | | | these differences to make unique looking details. |
| wood might just be plywood or particle board | | | | In the USA, the Federal Trade Commission regulates |
| topped with a veneer. There is a big difference | | | | the furniture industry and its sales pitches, etc. They |
| between Amish handcrafted furniture and plywood | | | | have ruled on solid wood versus plywood and have |
| cabinets with oak doors. | | | | indicated that there is a difference. That is, plywood |
| Now one would wonder why so many furniture | | | | is not solid wood. Specifically, The Federal Trade |
| manufacturers use plywood instead of solid wood. | | | | Commission has accepted for public comment a |
| Here is why. One reason why veneered panels of | | | | consent agreement with Taylor Woodcraft, Inc., |
| plywood are used extensively in furniture making is | | | | settling charges that the company violated Section 5 |
| the cost of plywood versus solid wood. Plywood can | | | | of the FTC Act by deceptively claiming in promotional |
| be got at a small fraction of the cost of really good | | | | materials that its household furniture was constructed |
| solid wood. The more expensive solid woods like | | | | of solid maple or oak, when a number of its pieces |
| cherry can cost as much as 3 to 4 times the price of | | | | contained some veneered exposed surfaces. |
| sheet goods. Manufacturers have now begun calling | | | | So while plywood may be cheaper and easier to |
| their cheap plyboards and flakeboards as 'Furniture | | | | construct, it is no match for solid wood furniture. It is |
| Boards' just to enhance its image. | | | | more of an escape route towards convenience and |
| Another reason is the cost of labor to machine and | | | | higher profits. Beware of manufacturers who claim to |
| assemble solid panels versus just cutting a rectangle | | | | be selling solid wood furniture but use plywood or |
| of plywood or veneering a panel. It is cheaper to | | | | particleboard for most of the internal parts. Do not |
| work with sheet goods than solid lumber in terms of | | | | feel shy to ask for details from the salesperson |
| man hours spent to put the piece together. Many | | | | before buying a piece. Buy something only if you are |
| high end tabletops are simply veneered plyboards | | | | absolutely sure. If the salesperson is not forthcoming |
| with a wood edge. Despite the difficulty, true Amish | | | | with genuine information, it is time to check another |
| furniture is handcrafted out of solid wood and stained | | | | store. |