|
Wood furniture is normally more expensive than other furniture made of plastic or synthetic materials. But there are many advantages to having wood furniture that makes the slightly higher price acceptable. The foremost advantage of wood furniture is that these are sturdy and long lasting. When furniture made of synthetic material is scratched or broken, the whole furniture needs to be replaced. The wood furniture, however, can be repaired easily. Throughout the years, the wood furniture becomes a good investment because of its increasing value. If the wood is genuine and the furniture is handed down to future generations, the value of the wood furniture increases significantly. But how can you tell if wood is genuine and which kind of wood is best for certain furniture? Here are short descriptions of the most popular kinds of woods that are used to construct furniture. These kinds of wood are alder, ash, beech, birch, eucalyptus, maple, oak, and pine. Alder is the second most popular kind of wood used in making ready-to-finish furniture. Its greatest advantage is its ability to stain well. Alder is relatively cheap but it can be made to appear like birch or maple, the more expensive variety of wood. Ash is a light-colored hardwood. Similar to alder, it can also stain well. But its long fibers and tight grains make ash excellent for bending. This is why ash is more often used in making chairs and other similar furniture. Beech also stains well and can be used to replace parts of furniture made of oak. But the cream color of beech makes it attractive in constructing baseball bats and other similar wooden sports equipment. Birch is an expensive hardwood and popular for its fine grain and white color. The fine grain is excellent for accepting a variety of designs and the white color is best for any stain.Eucalyptus is chosen for furniture that needs strength and durability. Eucalyptus does not easily decay and can withstand exposure to extreme weather conditions. At the same time, the eucalyptus weathers beautifully and needs very little touch up. Maple is another light-colored hardwood. Both the eastern maple and the western maple can take any stain color. But for heavier furniture, the western maple is preferred for its greater durability. Oak is an interesting wood because it can come in different shades of red and can also yield white wood. But no matter which oak variety is used, red oak or white oak, there will be no problem in staining since both stain well. And finally, pine is a wood furniture material which stains best among other kinds of wood. Pine is technically softwood but it is still utilized in furniture and in various wood furnishings. There are many varieties of pine, such as the Sugar Pine and the Ponderosa Pine, but for the prettiest grain pattern, the Radiata Pine is always preferred. The special characteristics of each kind of wood help decide the kind of furniture that will be constructed out of it. The quality of the grain and the color influences the type of design that will be placed on the wood. But whichever kind of wood is chosen, the wood furniture will always remain a good asset. | 
