Wood Finishes
Which finish we choose to use on the completed object should be chosen carefully. Certain woods such as elm don't change a great deal on aging and it may be appropriate not to apply any finish in these cases. Other woods, maple of walnut for example, benefit from a light treatment with wax. Oil is a third common finish but its use must be given due thought or an uneven and blotchy appearance may result. mahogany on the other hand takes an oil finish very well. Oil will also darken or change the colour of the wood.
Synthetic varnishes are quite rightly not used very often on fine furniture as they effectively seal the wood in a coat of plastic. However, if a piece requires a highly protective finish then I believe it is worthy of consideration.
Please follow the links below for a selection of different timbers commonly used in cabinet making and some to show the beauty of more exotic species.
Why do so many craftsmen choose to work in wood? One of the primary reasons could be the huge variety in the material. For example, if we firstly think of the colours of wood, we can find shades from the deep black of ebony to creamy whites of holly or sycamore with many colours in between. Not only the many tones of brown but if we're lucky we kind find shades of green in pieces of zircote, oranges in yew or cocobolo, the aptly named purpleheart and many more. A second aspect of this natural product which adds greatly to the variety of the material is the pattern formed by the wood grain. We can select timber with tight, regular grain such as hornbeam to more decorative contrasting grain found in zebrawood or one of the many rosewoods. Even how the log is cut can produce different grain patterns on the cut surface, the flakes in quartersawn oak for example. Defects such as natural staining, spalting and burls add a further dimension to the choice we have.
When working with solid wood and if we choose our timber carefully the variety of grain and colour mentioned above ensures that each piece of furniture will be unique.
The above are just a few of the factors that must be considered in the design process to ensure harmony and stability in the finished piece. Wood is obviously derived from a living material, even after it has been cut into boards it still moves. As it dries (seasons) the fibres contract and the wood shrinks. Indeed, wood stability is arguably the most important consideration of the wood worker if we wish are creations to last tens or even hundreds of years. After the timber has been carefully dried for up to 2 years to avoid splitting, carefully transformed into the finished piece those fibres can then re-absorb moisture from the atmosphere and swell, leading to splitting or joint failure.