Tips To Purchasing Reclaimed Wood Furniture
Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
by Charles Michael
S. C. H
Here are some tips in searching for a quality reclaimed wood furniture product whether you a coffee table, end table, night stand, armoire, dresser, chest, cabinet console table, etc.
There are many variations in quality, lumber selection and style that should be considered before you purchase a reclaimed barnwood piece of furniture.
For example, I know of one company that claims there product to be reclaimed barnwood yet much of it is new red fir and pine made to look old. For instance, the bed has new wood pickets and side rails. This is fine if they tell you. However, the customer rarely knows until a furniture expert points it out to them.
Are the doors constructed with traditional cabinet style and rails or are they pocket screwed? I have seen high dollar reclaimed barn wood furniture who uses pocket screws for their cabinet doors. This is not acceptable for quality in my opinion.
How about the drawers? Are they simply butt nailed, rabbit jointed or dovetailed? In my opinion dovetail is not necessary. A good rabbit joint is plenty strong. However, a butt nailed drawer is certainly amateur and weaker and I have seen it used way too much.
In addition, drawers that are built with the bottom simply nailed to the bottom of the sides are also proven to be weaker. A good drawer should be set inside the drawer sides. I also like to see them corner braced underneath. A quality drawer should not easily flex when you push inside of it.
So as you can see, these are things that you will not know by an online image unless they state it in their ads.
You should also know if you are getting the cheaper euro glides or the full extension ball bearing glides and in some instances the wood glides.
In conclusion, get to know the product before an instant purchase. You will be more likely happier in the long run.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)This is good advice, I think, Charles. An online image can hide a multitude of flaws.This is absolutely true. Very sad that people sometimes don't get what they pay for.
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