by 4 people |
When you invest in wood, whether it is furniture, cabinets or something else made of wood, you need information that is relevant.
I am building this lens to get you all the information you need to know about wood types, wood care, how things are constructed, and to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to ask!
This lense is in the process of being built, so we appreciate your patience! If you have any questions, contact me
Ask the Amish Craftsman!
Questions about wood, wood care, furniture construction?
Our Amish craftsmen have agreed to answer your questions about wood, how to care for it, how it is built, and anything that concerns your wood furniture. Ask away!
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- Margaret_Schaut Margaret_Schaut Feb 28, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
- Added this page to a permanent display page in the Mall on Squidoo!
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- Bala Bala Feb 12, 2008 @ 1:04 am
- Hi
I live in India. Lately I have taken to woodworking and want to make furniture. I have built a small shop. Where can I find information on types of wood available in India. Other than teak what other wood are good for furniture making
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- Nicky Nicky Feb 11, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
- Hello, do you do custom cutting? I am in search of a regular supplier of hickory for smoking fish. we need untreated, dried hickory in blocks that measure 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" with a thickness of 7/8". we could arrange for our own transport of the blocks. any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Nicky Sandford Honey Smoked Fish Company
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- Amish-Net Amish-Net Jan 30, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
- Hi harjote_s,
I would use a lemon oil but I really don't know if that is available in India. To be honest I'm not sure what you even have available over there. Depending on the finish you'll want to avoid anything with silicone or wax in them. Beyond that I really don't know what else to say. I'll do some looking and see if I can come up with something.
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- Amish-Net Amish-Net Jan 30, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
- Mike,
Thanks for the comment and question. To answer your question hickory is a very hard wood that reacts to humidity changes quite drastically. I have builders that really don't like to use it for this very reason. They have more humidity related problems with hickory than any other wood. I personally wouldn't recommend using solid hickory for an exterior door. The main reason being it will be exposed to a lot of different conditions including direct rain and direct sunlight. This means drastic changes in the humidity levels in the wood and lots of swelling and contracting. With its propensity for movement you could end up with some pretty big splits, cracks and checking. The biggest trick to hickory is controlling the humidity and this is just about impossible with an exterior door.
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Proper Processing of Wood
The beginning is critical to quality
Where the wood in your furniture comes from, and how it is processed when cut, is critical to whether your furniture is quality or junk.Wood is properly kiln dried, reducing the moisture content. If this isn't done correctly, then the wood will warp, seams and joints will come loose very soon, drawers and doors will become difficult or impossible to close. Fungus, bacteria and other infections of improperly processed wood affectthe quality. Clear coat finishes may crack, chip or even peel off.
If you are making an investment in furniture that you expect to last in your family for generations, or even just the rest of your life, be very certain where your wood originated and whether it was properly processed. Furniture is too expensive to be buying every couple of years!
The Nature of Wood & Environment
Basics about Wood and Wood Care
Most hardwoods are open grained, which means they will expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes, even after protective finishes have been applied. Taking care in controlling the furniture's environment will minimize the minor cracking and warping that is a natural part of wood's character and processes. Certain factors in the environment affect the processes of wood. Direct sunlight, fluorescent lighting, ultraviolet rays and direct exposure to heating and cooling sources all cause chemical changes in wood and you should avoid these. The proper humidity range is 35 to 40 percent. It is also important to keep from storing your wood pieces in the basement or attic, as the environment in these areas contributes to the decline of wood. Cracking, splitting, and swelling are the result of improper environment. Facts about Oak
Oak is one of the hardest woods available. The grain is strong and distinct, and it is easily stained in a wide range of different colors. There is acid, tannin and resins in the wood itself, which affects the way it is handled when being worked with. The Amish craftsmen use Western Oak, both red and white, and both in quarter sawn. Quarter sawn means the log is cut into quarters, like a pie shape, and from each of those pies lumber is sawn. It has a dramatic and distinctive grain, actually unforgettable.The red oak is very popular, because it has a bright, warm tone. Ranging from yellow to red, it is perfect in the warm range of interior decorating schemes.
White oak is also bright and beautiful, but it is more in the neutrals ranges, of ivory, off white, to the range of sage greens.
Amish Red Oak Lumber
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 4 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009) 
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 5 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 6 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Amish White Oak Lumber
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 3 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 4 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 5 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 6 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Amish Oak Saddle Lumber
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 5 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 6 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Oak Flooring
More Oak Flooring
Wood-Forum USA LLC Toast 2-1/4" x 3/4" Solid Hardwood Austin Oak Strip Flooring
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Facts about Cherry
Cherry is a hard wood, mainly out of Pennsylvania (for the American furniture manufacturing crowd).It has a very fine, wistful grain and extended characteristically, with a red/brown color that deepens with age and environment.
It is widely used with dark stains in formal settings, for jewelry armoires, Queen Anne style furnishings, etc.
In more casual environments a light stain, and maple as a counter point, keeps things bright and airy.
No matter what stain is used on cherry, it never lose its inherent redness.
Amish Cherry Lumber
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 6 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Facts about Maple
Maple is another extremely hard wood, with a light, ethereal grain. It is very white or ivory, sometimes with a slightly sage green hint and sometimes with a warmer orangish tone to it.It takes a specialty finish or extremely dark stain to cover the lightness of maple. It is not porous as is oak or cherry, so it doesn't accept stain as readily. However you stain or finish it, the white maple provides a sort of 'bounce' and energy to the finished color.
Birdseye Maple
Wood Veneer, Maple, Birdseye Medium, 2x8, PSA Backed
Amazon Price: $190.00 (as of 12/28/2009)
Facts about Hickory
Hickory is the hardest wood, running very tight in that race with European Beech.It is used where one wants a rustic look, with wide color swatches and knots, something satisfying in lodges, restaurants and in casual settings.
While hickory can be finished in anything that other woods are finished in, is is usually clear coated or given a light stain, to keep the hickory natural.
It is a good match in places where there is knotty pine on the walls, for example, but would be extremely out of place in formal settings.
Amish Hickory Lumber
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 4 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 5 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 6 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 7 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Amish Hickory Lumber
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 5 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 6 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 7 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Facts about Walnut
Walnut is a beautiful, dark wood, with an elegant grain similar to cherry or maple, but a bit more defined.For an extended period it was hard to find a beautiful dark walnut, because the heartwood is white on most trees, and created a rustic look like hickory or pine. Once steaming became feasible, the effect on the coloring and grain lines of walnut made it an especially dark, beautiful and rich choice for furniture, inlays and decorative accents.
It is a dramatic counterpoint for lighter woods, like maple, and is beautiful as an inlay.
Hardwoods
homerwood hardwood flooring amish hand scraped 5 x 3/4
Amazon Price: (as of 12/28/2009)
Walnut Lumber
Burlwood
by Amish-Net
In my lenses you'll find a lot of great information and pictures that will allow you to look over a lot of Amish furniture and other things related...
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