The Beauty and Complexity of Solid Timber

Is solid timber the best material to use for furniture?

Solid timber is an amazing material but like all materials it has strengths and weaknesses. Modern designs and modern homes are generally not suitable for pieces made from solid timber. Any piece with large flat surfaces such as cabinets are generally not suitable for solid timber due to shrinkage and warping, this is why most flat surfaces are veneered for stability.

Why does solid timber move?

If you imagine a tree as a bundle of very small diameter straws that is then cut into strips, you will see that the structure is a mass of open tubes that can absorb and release moisture from the atmosphere. As the amount of moisture increases or decreases the tubes change size and the piece of wood changes dimension mostly in its width and that movement can be up to 10%. This is not a big problem if the piece is a 100mm but a large panel such as a wardrobe side of 600mm could move +/- 6mm.

Before mdf and plywood everything was made in solid timber, what has changed?

There are two main reasons, the first is that designs took into account the movement of timber so all large panels were in frames so that the panel could move independently and tabletops used buttons to secure the top to the frames. The other factor is that the environment in the buildings was natural with the humidity changing gradually throughout the year allowing the timber to adjust slowly. Modern buildings tend to be incredibly dry once they are occupied causing immediate stress to all materials but particularly timber.

So, we shouldn’t use solid timber for interior furniture and joinery?

You just need to be aware of the limitations and design accordingly and not perceive manmade boards as inferior products. Using solid timber and boards together will give you an excellent product of high quality.

To read more about materials, download our top tip guide.

Enhancing Knowledge and Craftsmanship: CPD

Our CPD days offer a look at the process of creating bespoke furniture. The presentations will give participants the chance to meet the cabinetmakers responsible for creating the pieces and explore some of the common and sometimes costly mistakes that are made in specifications.

The CPD training can be entirely bespoke and tailored to the specific requirements and business needs of the attendees and projects at hand or they can follow a series of set topics.

The serves to take all through the journey of bespoke joinery, offering knowledge and insight that will ultimately help save time, money and give an inside-out perspective on the process.?

Want to find out more about NEJ Stevenson CPD days, contact us at [email protected]