We invited two experienced furniture designers to give you an analysis from a professional perspective, and there are many real experiences of Sumitomo. There is a lot of dry goods, look down.
1. What kinds of wood are common solid wood furniture on the market, and what are their characteristics?
Su Yuan Designer @ Xue Fei: At present, the most used solid wood furniture on the market is rubber laminated wood. Rubber wood is fast, low cost, medium hardness and easy to dye, but the texture is not obvious.
The so-called laminated wood is to splice small pieces of wood into a finished board with a fixed size. General performance is relatively stable, not easy to bend and crack, but the texture is messy, with relatively more glue, slightly less environmentally friendly. Generally, glulam is dyed, which will lose the natural beauty of wood.
Another commonly used wood is pine. Many IKEA solid wood furniture is made of pine. Pine is an economic tree species with soft texture and obvious texture, which is easy to change color after a long time. Pine furniture is not suitable for tenons and mortises, and it is usually connected with hardware.
Elm is a relatively cheap hardwood, which is mostly used to make Chinese furniture. The texture is clear and beautiful, but it is easy to crack. Wood such as beams and columns removed from old buildings has stable performance and is very suitable for making furniture, but now it is less and less.
Oak is a common hardwood with high hardness and straight texture, but it is also easy to crack.
Cherry wood, mostly produced in North America, is reddish in color and beautiful in texture. After polishing, it feels very delicate, has good stability and is not easy to crack. After a long time, the color will get darker.
Walnut is a high-quality hardwood with stable color, beautiful texture, stable performance and delicate hand feeling after polishing.
Lost and Found Designer @ Liu Wei:
There are many kinds of wood commonly used in the market. For these original brands in China, several kinds of wood are widely used: white oak, red oak, Fraxinus mandshurica, black walnut, beech, cherry and maple. In fact, this is also several kinds of wood commonly used in the world, almost all of which are imported from Europe or North America.
Maple is the hardest, followed by white oak, Fraxinus mandshurica, red oak and beech. The hardness of cherry wood and black walnut wood is slightly lower than that of previous wood. Beech has the strongest flexibility, and white oak and ash also have certain flexibility, which can be used as materials for curved wood processing.
The price is hard to say because of the market. Black walnut ranks first, followed by cherry, white oak, Fraxinus mandshurica, red oak, beech, maple and beech.
Sumitomo @ I am aa: Walnut is the best, followed by oak and ash. Pine depends on the origin and treatment, and the other one doesn't know or touch it.
Sumitomo linden: from low to medium, Chinese fir, pine, Chinese toon, rubber wood, beech, manchurian ash, red oak, white oak and black walnut.
2. What kind of solid wood furniture is suitable for north and south?
Lost and Found Designer @ Liu Wei:
See if the materials and materials are reasonable. Heavy furniture generally requires high hardness of wood, and the wood should be dry, clear, dense, delicate and without irritating smell. Check all furniture parts that use wood-based panels to ensure that they are edge-sealed.
Second, look at the ingredients. There should be no big knots or cracks in the main stress parts of furniture, such as columns and bearing rods connecting columns near the ground. The structure is firm, the frame shall not be loose, and the tenon and material are not allowed to be broken. Gaps between movable parts of furniture, such as cracks in doors and drawers, should be appropriate. Whether the gap is suitable depends on whether the workmanship is fine.
Third, look at hardware, furniture hinges, slides and other metal parts should be smooth and flexible, the surface should be well plated, there should be no rust and burrs, and there should be enough strength. Check the drawer slide. You can pull out the drawer by 2/3 of the total length, and press it in the middle of the upper end face of the drawer panel by hand to see if the slide is firm. Pay special attention to the joints of heavy furniture parts to ensure that a large number of accessories are installed, and no nails are missed or pierced.
Looking at the origin, the origin of solid wood furniture is actually very important, because the moisture content of furniture wood is affected by the origin, so it should be produced locally as far as possible, so that the moisture content of wood is consistent with the average moisture content in the use area.
In terms of wood selection, white oak is the best choice for oak, and German beech is the best choice for beech. Like red oak, beech is not easy to use in solid wood furniture. Oak cracks easily in the north, but it is much better in the south.
Like black walnut and cherry wood, the expansion is relatively small, the wood is relatively stable, and the north and south are quite suitable.
Solid wood furniture is cheap and not good. Because the material selection and technology are very particular, and the production cycle is relatively long, if you encounter low-priced solid wood furniture, you should carefully consider whether the material is all solid wood or solid wood veneer or other artificial materials.
Su Yuan Designer @ Xue Fei:
Due to its own characteristics, expansion, contraction and cracking of solid wood are inevitable, that is, the problem of degree. Most manufacturers try to reduce the adverse effects of wood characteristics in their design. For example, a large-area plane generally adopts a frame-saving and plate-loading structure, and the overall desktop will use a thick plate with steel bars inside, and the back of the thin cabinet door has a horizontal belt.
Pure tenon and mortise are the most durable, but the cost is also the highest.
In addition, the surface coating process will also affect the stability of furniture. Many furniture in the market adopt spray painting technology, which closes the pores on the surface of wood and reduces the influence of external environment on wood, but it loses the texture of solid wood, so spray painting is relatively less environmentally friendly. The other is wood wax oil, which can perfectly maintain the texture of wood, but the furniture is also relatively affected by temperature and humidity.
In fact, the choice of wood by manufacturers is also considered comprehensively. Oak and beech are cheaper, but their wood properties are also the most unstable. Cherry is generally used for large flat plates, walnut and maple are used for frame structures. Walnut is better than maple, and cherry has the best stability.
Sumitomo @ Big Face Bear loves to sleep late: I suggest that comrades in the north still buy solid wood furniture made in Qingdao. With so many cracks, only one table survived the heating season intact. Because in the study, there was no humidifier or basin, but it survived.
Sumitomo @ I'm not your dad: I suggest northerners buy furniture made in the north, because the moisture content in the south is different and it is easy to crack. Wood wax oil coating is easier to crack than lacquer sealing because of water exchange. In addition, when buying furniture, some unreasonable structures are easy to crack, so we should pay attention to identification. For example, the whole board without frame structure constraints is easy to deform. Remember to stay away from heating in the north, avoid exposure to the sun, use it frequently, and wipe it with a slightly wet cloth. Those who pursue stability and don't like painting can choose teak furniture in Myanmar, and black walnut hard maple in North America is also possible, provided that the quality of wood used by manufacturers reaches the standard.
3. How to integrate solid wood furniture into the home environment when matching?
Su Yuan Designer @ Xue Fei:
Good solid wood furniture generally has natural and beautiful texture and texture, which is decorative in itself, so it is more suitable for simple decoration style. Ceiling and walls should not have complicated shapes, and the floor should be made of natural materials such as wood floor or cement, not marble or vitrified brick. Solid color or elegant curtains, white or light gray cotton and linen with solid wood furniture will look good.
Small space can choose some low cabinets, with light tables and chairs, will not appear depressed.
If there are many pieces of solid wood furniture in the same space, you can choose two kinds of wood to match, which will not be too monotonous. Pay attention to the proportion when matching, one is dominant and the other is auxiliary, and the simple style is easier to mix and match.
Lost and Found Designer @ 中中中: Solid wood furniture has universal applicability in the home environment because of its natural texture and color, and there is no need to worry about whether it can be integrated with the home environment.
When matching furniture, it is suggested to consider the overall space, uniform tone, uniform style and reasonable layout.
It is a safe arrangement to choose furniture with large volume and great influence on spatial style first, and then match the small pieces around it.
4. How to choose solid wood veneer, solid wood plywood and solid wood?
Su Yuan Designer @ Xue Fei: There is a kind of solid wood laminated wood, which is made of small wooden boards and spliced into a finished board with a fixed size. The general performance is relatively stable, and it is not easy to bend and crack, but the texture is messy, and more glue is used, which is slightly less environmentally friendly.
Board-wood combination is generally glued with boards. You can use solid wood for cabinets, but you must use good plates. Imported ones generally have strict standards. Someone has checked the children's study desk, but the domestic plates are not up to standard. Domestic supervision of plates is not strict, and the gap is mainly in glue.
This bed is best made of solid wood. This must be environmentally friendly. And it is best to use solid wood for children.
Lost and Found Designer @ 中中中: Actually, a lot of furniture doesn't have to be made of solid wood, such as cabinets. The combination of wood boards is good, but at present, the domestic solid wood veneer boards can not reach the international level, only meet the domestic environmental protection requirements. Therefore, I dare not compliment that many domestic furniture are sold very cheaply, including veneer glue, and imported furniture will be better. We visited the Japanese factory in China, and the plates they used were all imported from New Zealand. According to them, the domestic plates are not up to standard.
Personally, I think tables and chairs must be made of solid wood.
5. What about later maintenance?
Su Yuan Designer @ Xue Fei: Generally, paraffin oil is applied, and it is not oiled once every six months. Wood wax oil is not as stable as spray painting, but it is easy to repair and can be polished and oiled repeatedly. Wood wax oil is widely used in Germany.
Lost and Found Designer @ 中中中: Solid wood furniture can be divided into many types according to the difference of wood and surface treatment. The following maintenance tips are applicable to solid wood furniture with semi-closed varnish and wood wax oil surface treatment.
First of all, I personally think that the use principle of solid wood furniture is "nurturing", and let it change naturally without affecting the use.
For solid wood furniture coated with semi-closed varnish and wood wax oil, wood is connected with the external environment, and the change of external temperature and humidity will have a direct impact on furniture. Therefore, when using, try to avoid direct sunlight and stay away from heat sources such as heating and lamps.
Cleaning of solid wood furniture: use soft cotton cloth to wipe off the dust on the furniture surface along the grain direction of wood. The cloth for wiping furniture does not need to be too wet, otherwise it will easily destroy the surface coating, resulting in discoloration or unsmooth furniture surface, especially the furniture coated with wood wax oil.
Solid wood furniture needs regular maintenance besides daily cleaning. The basic method is to wipe the furniture surface with wax or wood wax oil. Commonly used are Osama and Biot.
Some customers are worried about black marks on cigarette butts or hot cups, and semi-closed or wood wax oil coated furniture is not heat-resistant. If this happens, the furniture will definitely get hurt.
This involves the restoration of furniture. If the area is particularly large or deep, it is recommended to let a professional master repair it.
If it is minor, you can try to repair it yourself. The steps are as follows:
1. Use 600-mesh sandpaper to polish the surface of injured furniture until the surface is smooth and traces are basically eliminated.
2. Wipe the furniture surface with cotton cloth dipped in paraffin oil.
3. After the wax oil is completely dried, repeat the above two steps 1-2 times until the traces of smooth surface disappear. (Pay attention to self-protection when wiping, wear a mask and gloves)
Sumitomo in the evening with oblique wind and drizzle @ In the northern winter, the solid wood will still crack when there is floor heating at home. After the heating period, it will be maintained after sale, and it will be fine to wipe it with professional maintenance oil.
Sumitomo @ Maitreya: South, white oak, the door is in the rainy season. Finally, open the window for ventilation and bask in the sun on a hot day. After this round of tossing, generally only dry cleaning without water, the rest are not maintained at all. It's been a year, no deformation, no cracking. The home store said that if the humidity is too high, it should be dehumidified. If it is too dry, put a basin of water at home. The south couldn't get dry, so I bought a hygrometer to test the humidity. More than 75% of the time, I will turn on the air conditioner to dehumidify, and add a dehumidifying bag to the drawer in rainy season.
Sumitomo @ Yunshuimeng: If you live in the north, it is recommended to buy furniture made in the north, otherwise heating in winter will easily crack. Humidity control at 40-60% is a comfortable humidity for wood, but it is still difficult to achieve in winter in Beijing. It is recommended to use a humidifier to moisturize. In terms of oil maintenance, both Osamu and TAPIR have special care products for solid wood furniture, which can be lightly cleaned and maintained.
Sumitomo @WOOZ designer handmade furniture: the north is worried about cracking, and the south is worried about expansion and deformation. Keep the indoor humidity balanced, and the humidity should be around 50. In the north, it is suggested to add a humidifier. Solid wood is like people. If you feel dry, so is it. Pay attention to the usual maintenance, wipe (wood wax oil furniture) with wet cotton cloth, and have more ventilation. In the south, having a dehumidifier is really useful (rainy season). WOOZ's furniture is hand-made and tenon-mortise technology, so the structure will change according to the customer's geographical location.
Sumitomo @ Go Stomach Bag: I bought a bottle of Ogilvy's maintenance liquid to wipe the furniture, and finally the table was not afraid of accidentally dripping oil.
Sumitomo @ Pang Dingding: I bought a whole set of solid wood furniture (mortise and tenon+wood wax oil) for environmental protection. The quality of furniture is related to the process of going out, but it takes time to adapt to the new environment. If there is floor heating or heating, be sure to pay attention, it is easy to crack. It was too cold last winter, and some furniture showed tiny cracks, but it would automatically close when it warmed up. In addition to cracking, another headache is the trace, especially the dining table must be careful, and the hot container must be kept warm, otherwise there will be hot marks. If you wax immediately, the traces of regular waxing will gradually disappear.
Sumitomo @ Flower Cat Changxia: Xiong Jia, Beijing. Except for two vertical wardrobes made of customized plates, everything else: beds, cabinets, tables and chairs, shelves, countertops and chopping boards are made of solid wood, including white oak, black walnut, manchurian ash, beech, manchurian ash and acacia. At present, I have been staying for almost two years and have experienced it in all four seasons. There is no crack and visible warping deformation, and there is no such trend by visual inspection.
The dining table often gets wet and needs maintenance: 1. It doesn't matter if you get wet, try to dry it at any time, and don't keep it for a long time; 2. Rub it with walnut oil several times regularly to moisten it.
The countertops and bay window sills of the study are paved with the original materials of Fraxinus mandshurica jigsaw puzzles and finger joints. Find a carpenter to lay it according to the size first, and then finish it by DIY: 1. Broaching; 2. Smooth grinding from coarse to fine; 3. Apply hard paraffin oil two or three times to dry. In this process, you will see the wooden board change from rough, dry and pale to smooth and delicate bit by bit, and the pattern is clear, gorgeous and shiny. This is a magical experience.
You can usually wipe it with a wet cloth, but not too wet. Dry it in time if you spill water. So far, it is still smooth and moist, and there is no need to wax and refuel in a short time. Fraxinus mandshurica pattern looks good, but it is said that it is easy to deform. According to Xiong Jia's measurement, there is no warping deformation on the desktop, but there is some expansion and contraction. The first year was quite obvious, but this year I feel much better. Nice pattern, one of the best beauties in light-colored wood ~