Outdoor Wood Furniture Plans - Pick the Suitable Wood for Your Project

Finding the best choice of wood for your own project is really a significant part for achieving success in woodworking.

So now that you've already found some wonderful woodworking plans, you're all set to carry on that next great homemade project.

In here, one problem may arise. What kind of wood are you going to use? While you are still searching for the answer, here are some advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of wood, for it will definitely help you on deciding in terms of wood variety. This will also assist you on getting started accurately.

Wood for wood processing is generally categorized into two: Softwood and Hardwood

Softwood

Soft woods are often cheaper and light, and are generally often grown in sustainably managed forests, a fact that they are protected from extinction. This guarantees that you're not simply protecting our planet, but you're rest-assured you'll have lumber intended for your subsequent woodworking project.

Here are the three types of conifers you can make use of.

• Cedar - Western Red Cedar, the most typical type and usually has a reddish tint.
Cedar produces long lengths of timber with true, straight grain; however the best reason why you have to use it on your next woodworking project is its high resistance to deterioration. So if you're building something for an outdoor garden, Cedar is the perfect choice.

• Pine - Pine is the second popular and is also available in various wood types (ponderosa, sugar, yellow and white). It is a great wood for furniture plans because of the natural wood grain and beautiful knots it exemplifies. Pine is fairly good and pine scrub is ideal for the complicated details that basically should be carved out from the woods.

• Redwood - Redwood is like cedar, highly resistant to deterioration and moisture.
Available at reasonable prices in furniture shops. It is easy to work with and possesses a straight grain. It also features a red tint.

Hardwoods
The kind of wood you have to use is depending upon the needs of your woodwork plans. There are some kinds of lumber available within each category.

Hard woods are usually more expensive, and some are really hard to find.
Listed here are three popular hardwoods utilized in woodworking.

• Ash - Ash is generally a light brown wood, it can be color brown or white with a straight grain.
It's fairly easy to use than any other hardwoods, but it can really be very hard to find.

• Oak - One of the most well-known and finest kinds of woods used in furniture, it is extremely sturdy and heavy wood which you usually find in most home improvement shops.
Oak comes in white and red, it's all up to you what color you should choose, whether it's in the plan or it's your personal choice. (White oak is moisture resistant, so it is your best option for your outdoor fixtures).

• Mahogany - Another popular wood used in making furniture is mahogany.
It can be reddish (sometimes dark) wood with straight grain. It's not as durable as oak; nevertheless it is simple to work with and takes stain and oil perfectly. Unfortunately, mahogany can't keep on existing on our wild forest, meaning to say, it is actually getting extinct. This just not only affects our environment, but surely, it can also bring a huge effect on your pocket.

Mentioned above are the different characteristics of wood which somehow help you to make the most out of your beginner woodworking ideas and arriving with a successful woodwork project.

Choosing The Right Cleaning Solution For Wood Furniture

There's nothing like the beauty and command of wood furniture. There may be something chic or inexplicably cool about more modern materials such as metals or high-grade plastic, but there's also something about wood furniture that cannot be ignored. wood simply breathes grandness and charm and elegance rolled into one. Solid wood furniture, in particular, strikes us with such appeal that we almost always think they are everything we would want in furniture. In the home or office, wood is wood and nothing can pretty much substitute for the unmistakable air of class it exudes.

To keep wood furniture looking great though, we have to do our part in maintaining it. Some people may think wood is something that you can just wipe with a damp piece of cloth to get rid of stains or dust that may accumulate on it. This should not be the case, though. In fact, before you know what type of cleaning is required for wood, you have to make a few considerations. For the most part, you have to know what type of finish was made on that wood for you to determine what type of cleaning solution is good for it.

For example, the most basic thing you need to consider when deciding how to go about cleaning your wood furniture is to check if it is soft-finished or hard-finished. Soft-finished woods are those that are coated with oil while hard-finished woods have either a varnish or polyurethane coat. You can check this by applying a very small amount of linseed oil on the wood. If oil is absorbed, the wood is soft-finished. Otherwise, the wood is hard-finished. To know whether it's coated with polyurethane or varnish, apply denatured alcohol on the wood. If the alcohol absorbs quickly, then coat is made of varnish.

Once you know what type of finish your wood has, you can now shop for the right cleaning solution. You'd like to make sure though, that you actually get the right one as using the wrong one can cause permanent marks on your furniture. Also, you should never mix cleaning solutions, whether they are both for soft-finished or hard-finished or if you mix one type with the other. This can mean disaster for your wood, and while its quality will not be diminished, its beauty certainly will be. If you're simply unsure about the cleaning solution to get, do not hesitate to ask the store clerk. There is a right way to clean your wooden furniture, and there is no reason why you shouldn't do it that way.

Outdoor Wood Furniture Plans – Pick The Suitable Wood For Your Project

Simple Guidelines on How to Pick the Most Suitable Wood for Your Project

Finding the best choice of wood for your own project is really a significant part for achieving success in woodworking.

So now that you’ve already found some wonderful woodworking plans, you’re all set to carry on that next great homemade project.

In here, one problem may arise. What kind of wood are you going to use? While you are still searching for the answer, here are some advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of wood, for it will definitely help you on deciding in terms of wood variety. This will also assist you on getting started accurately.

Wood for Wood processing is generally categorized into two: Softwood and Hardwood

Softwood

Soft woods are often cheaper and light, and are generally often grown in sustainably managed forests, a fact that they are protected from extinction. This guarantees that you’re not simply protecting our planet, but you’re rest-assured you’ll have lumber intended for your subsequent woodworking project.

Here are the three types of conifers you can make use of.

• Cedar - Western Red Cedar, the most typical type and usually has a reddish tint.
Cedar produces long lengths of timber with true, straight grain; however the best reason why you have to use it on your next woodworking project is its high resistance to deterioration. So if you’re building something for an outdoor garden, Cedar is the perfect choice.

• Pine - Pine is the second popular and is also available in various wood types (ponderosa, sugar, yellow and white). It is a great wood for furniture plans because of the natural wood grain and beautiful knots it exemplifies. Pine is fairly good and pine scrub is ideal for the complicated details that basically should be carved out from the woods.

• Red wood - Redwood is like cedar, highly resistant to deterioration and moisture.
Available at reasonable prices in furniture shops. It is easy to work with and possesses a straight grain. It also features a red tint.

Hard woods
The kind of wood you have to use is depending upon the needs of your woodwork plans . There are some kinds of lumber available within each category.

Hardwoods are usually more expensive, and some are really hard to find.
Listed here are three popular hardwoods utilized in woodworking.

• Ash - Ash is generally a light brown wood, it can be color brown or white with a straight grain.
It’s fairly easy to use than any other hardwoods, but it can really be very hard to find.

• Oak - One of the most well-known and finest kinds of woods used in furniture, it is extremely sturdy and heavy wood which you usually find in most home improvement shops.

Oak comes in white and red, it’s all up to you what color you should choose, whether it’s in the plan or it’s your personal choice. (White oak is moisture resistant, so it is your best option for your outdoor fixtures).

• Mahogany - Another popular wood used in making furniture is mahogany.
It can be reddish (sometimes dark) wood with straight grain. It’s not as durable as oak; nevertheless it is simple to work with and takes stain and oil perfectly. Unfortunately, mahogany can’t keep on existing on our wild forest, meaning to say, it is actually getting extinct. This just not only affects our environment, but surely, it can also bring a huge effect on your pocket.

Mentioned above are the different characteristics of wood which somehow help you to make the most out of your beginner woodworking ideas and arriving with a successful woodwork project.

Elegant Wood Furniture for Modern Homes

Nothing compares to the elegance of wood furniture. In spite of the emergence of varied types of materials for furniture in the market today, wood will remain the favorite for all. The elegance, the warmth ambiance presented by wooden furniture is matchless. Wooden furniture is good for both indoors and outdoors. Perfect for giving a natural impression, the smell of wood itself brings a refreshing and warmth atmosphere. It is seen in many commercial centers like resorts and spas using mostly wood material. The same relaxing atmosphere is visible in modern homes with wooden furniture.

There are a wide range of furniture made from various types of wood which bring a different impression. Teak, oak, mahogany, cherry, pine have their unique appearance that are used for classic or antique furniture, modern or traditional furniture. Their distinctive characteristics, including easy to be crafted, thus help in crafting furniture in varied styles and patterns. Furniture made of wood has wide ranges of designs and shapes. While the traditional furniture or antique furniture in wood has more curves and flowery patterns with intricate details, the modern, conventional furniture are in lines and sleek patterns. The new concept of minimalist in modern wooden furniture has become very popular in recent years. Wood furniture manufacturers are offering a whole range of modern furniture designs in wood on functional basis with as simple features as possible.

Furniture made of various types of solid wood is given varied finishes. You can also have the replicate teak, cherry or antique look depending on the finish applied. Modern wood furniture is painted or waxed or varnished or polished with natural oils and other materials. While varnishing gives a shiny appearance, the wooden furniture can also be kept natural. The best thing is that you can give any kind of finishes that match well with your room wall color, home furnishings and other items. If you are looking for a warm, rich color scheme nothing beats the look of wood. The rich tones give any piece a subtle ambiance that lends itself to a serene atmosphere. A good pre-treatment is a must before the production process, to reduce the moisture content in the wood and also make it insect repellant, which ensures the durability and quality of wood.

The visible wood fibers, the natural or other finishes, the varied shapes, the brown color, the grains all work together to create varied furniture items. The timeless charm of wood brings a natural beauty into your room with vibrant and durable finishes that emphasize the wood grain. Bring the natural beauty of wood furniture into your home for a look that is comforting and beautiful. Wood furniture offers a rich beauty to any room it inhabits.

Solid Wooden Furniture: Choosing a Wood for Your Home

If you're looking for quality furniture for your home, you can't get any better than solid wooden furniture. Hardwood furniture is renowned for its strength and longevity, as well as its attractive natural appearance. Whilst wood furniture ranges share these qualities that make them perennial favourites, there are a wide variety of different woods and styles to choose from, each with its own characteristics. How do you know which wood will be successful in your home?

We know that solid wooden furniture is an investment and we want to help you get it right. This article takes you through some of the popular woods so that you can decide which one is right for you.

Pine Furniture

Pine furniture is often finished in a wax or lacquer which is ideal for bringing out the beautiful honey-coloured grain of this fine timber. Pine hardwood offers a light and attractive appearance that makes it a favourite for home furnishings. The pine dining table is a popular seller and there are plenty of dining sets out there that rework the traditional pine table in stylish contemporary design. As pinewood is relatively quick and easy to grow and found across Europe, it is also the cheapest option when choosing solid wood furniture. This makes it an excellent choice for families and first time who want a great product at an even better price.

Oak Furniture

It's hard to go wrong with oak furniture. It is often considered to be the choice for hardwood furnishings and this reputation is well deserved. As one of the most durable woods, solid oak furniture offers a quality and robustness that is hard to beat. It is versatile in manufacturing and the stunning natural grain of the timber means that oak furniture is available in a wide range of styles and designs and is always beautiful. The quality of oak is reflected in higher pricing, however the all-round characteristics of this timeless classic ensure that money spent on solid oak furniture is money well spent.

Indian Oak Furniture

Like its European and American cousins, Indian oak offers excellent strength and durability for home furniture. Indian oak's difference lies in the colour and tone of its fabulous natural grain; it is a more colourful timber, resplendent with shades of pink, orange and brown which create a beautifully textured, patterned effect. Indian oak furniture collections such as Indian Sheesham and Indian Zen are renowned for their eye-catching and unique ethnic effect. Prices remain relatively high for solid Indian oak furniture but if you're looking for a wood which offers the quality and reliability of a classic oak with an unusual exotic twist, then this could be the timber for you.

Mahogany Furniture

An old time favourite, mahogany furniture exudes distinguished elegance and excellent taste. This beautiful fine grained wood changes from a deep rich red to a reddish brown as it matures. Mahogany furniture is usually finished with oil, which preserves its deep colouring, although it is easily damaged by water marks. Sticky fingers and spilled drinks will ruin mahogany furniture in no time so families with young children are best to avoid this wood, at least until the kids are older. On the bright side, mahogany is naturally resistant to rot, decay and infestation, and all mahogany timbers today come from sustainable forests. Although it is less commonly found in homes these days, many people still choose mahogany furniture for its distinctive colouring and sophisticated style.

Ash

Ash is an extremely attractive, light coloured wood with some excellent characteristics. Ash furniture has less knots and a more solid colour than oak or pine due to its tighter grain, which some people find more attractive in wooden furniture. Its timbers are both strong and elastic, making it a popular material for modern furniture manufacturing. solid ash furniture is wonderfully robust and offers great longevity; it is comparable to oak in terms of its durability but a better supply of ash wood means that it also cheaper. Many households choose ash furniture for its pleasing appearance, sturdy nature and excellent price.

Finding Used Lumber and Reclaimed Wood Furniture

Debris from demolition and construction makes up to 40% of landfill waste. Before the debris is entirely crushed, it often contains perfectly usable reclaimed timber. It's cheaper to buy reclaimed wood furniture, or use wood reclaimed from debris, plus you reduce landfill waste and deforestation.

You can use reclaimed materials for your own craft or construction projects, and give new life to treasures that have been trashed. The first step of a project using reclaimed timber is finding the materials. Here are a few places you might find reclaimed wood furniture and materials.

Abandoned Shipyards

Packing crates are used to transport heavy cargo across oceans and are usually made of exotic or high-quality timber. Usually, these materials are considered refuse and are burned or discarded into landfills. Wood reclaimed from ship yards means rummaging through heavy materials, which can be hard work, but the effort can result in fantastic reclaimed timber.

Yard or Garage Sales

A garage sale is another great place to find discounted reclaimed wood furniture. It's easy to turn old furniture into pieces that look new with a little sandpaper, stain or paint, and some new handles. You can repurpose wood from old tables, chairs, desks, bookshelves, mirrors, dressers, doors, picture frames, window frames, headboards, and cribs. Reuse the reclaimed wood furniture as it was originally intended, or give it a whole new life.

Homes Set for Demolition

House demolition is cheaper than deconstruction, but if you can get there in time, you could salvage reclaimed timber and other items, like windows or sinks. To find houses set for demolition, look around for homes that appear abandoned, look in the paper for stories about homes to be demolished, and ask construction firms or your city planner if they know of any homes with this status. If you learn about a house set for demolition, contact the property owners for permission to deconstruct the home and salvage its contents.

To deconstruct a house, begin with the doors and trim and remove windows and sills. Cut out the flooring and remove any appliances, like sinks, you may want. Move on to the siding next; clear the insulation and remove the back of the interior walls. Finally in this order, remove the roof, rafters, ceiling and beams. Take the wood reclaimed for your personal use and stack it neatly, so it is easy to pack and haul.

Retail Locations

Often, retail locations and thrift stores sell recycled, salvaged and reclaimed wood furniture or timber. Some items you can find at retail locations include doors, cabinets, shelves, tables, chairs, lighting fixtures, window frames, flooring, and trim.

Online Sources

For other opportunities to find reclaimed timber or furniture, check out classified ads online. Sites like Craigslist.org or Freecycle.org are good resources for finding reclaimed wood furniture that people near you are getting rid of. You usually have to act quickly if you see an item costing little to nothing. It is important, however, to exercise personal safety when meeting strangers.

When you repurpose reclaimed timber, you're taking a vital step in reducing waste and improving the health of the planet. Plus you don't usually have to go very far to find reusable furniture or reclaimed wood to update your home.

Outdoor Wood Furniture

If you are a woodworker in need of outdoor wood furniture Plans, you've come to the right place. They are located immediately after this article. You can read on or simply scroll down and click on the links.

Woodworkers often look for "easy woodworking projects" or "woodworking projects for beginners" on the Internet—simple projects that can be completed with basic tools. Outdoor wood furniture is a terrific project to begin with, and plans are available for all skill levels. Although any job can be made easier by the use of power tools, many of these outdoor wood furniture items can be built using only hand tools. The simplest of these plans turn out a fairly rustic-looking piece of furniture, but the rustic style is what many people choose for their outdoor furniture.

A typical example is a picnic table and benches. You can get plans for these items that use only 2x4 and/or 2x6 lumber that only has to be cut to length (no ripping). If you’re a little more enterprising, you can get plans for a round table and add a festive umbrella.

 

Another excellent example is an Adirondack chair. Much of its appeal is in its simplicity. The first of these chairs were made out of 11 pieces of wood all cut from the same board. The plans available today are a little more advanced, so that the finished products are more comfortable to sit in. A set of Adirondack chairs, however, is still something that any woodworker should be able to put together. If you are enterprising, you can also try your hand at Adirondack folding chairs, love seats and chaise lounges.

If you are a little more experienced, consider a porch swing. It is a bit more complicated, but you can handle it quite well with a good set of plans.

The Benefits of Wooden Furniture

Wooden furniture is timeless and beautiful. There's nothing like natural wood, a wonderful, warm and attractive material when it comes to furniture. Wooden furniture can be broken down into three main categories: rustic, traditional or modern. Regardless of style, wooden furniture is durable and if well cared for, it can last a lifetime. This article highlights the benefits of wooden furniture however, before we begin it's important to look at a brief history to give you a better perspective on this natural gift.

Wood furniture has a reach history dating back to the British Monarchy circa 1550. The Antique period in Britain has been highlighted by Elizabeth and Tudor, Jacobean and Regency to name a few. In France, we have seen the Renaissance period followed by the early Colonial in America. The development of timber such as solid oak was used as a primary source for furniture. Design wise, the introduction of wooden "settle" or long wooden benches with high backs and "armoires", wooden cupboards is evident. Walnut, cherry, mahogany, oak and beech wood was later used in a variety of wooden products from beds, chairs and tables and bookcases. Let's now look at the advantages of natural wood when used for furniture making.

One of the benefits of wooden furniture is that, it brigs a luxurious, warm and rich feeling into a home. A home is a sanctuary, a place where one comes to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Given that wood is still available in abundance, although we can argue differently here, it is fairly easy to find a wooden furniture piece that suits your personal style and comfort. In addition to creating a natural living space, wood is also easy to clean and maintain as mentioned earlier.

Cost is another benefit. Given the large number of furniture stores, one can find a beautiful and durable wooden piece to fit a budget. This is made possible given the variety of wood types from pine, maple and cherry wood. Pine for example, is an inexpensive wood however, it retains the richness and quality that wooden furniture is known for. If you like a more unique furniture piece made from rosewood, a Brazilian wood, you can also impress your friends with this excellent, unique and rare furniture piece. All in all, affordability is there for all which makes this a desirable and wise choice when it comes to furniture.

Wood furniture also provides the green or eco-friendliness factor. Furniture made out of reclaimed wood, typically recycled from old buildings, provides a good way to reduce deforestation and manufacturing waste that can harm the environment. Now days, it is quiet easy and fashionable to have your home more eco-friendly. If you are driving a Prius, you most likely are considering or already have bought other green products. Why not get a beautiful, natural furniture piece from your favorite furniture shop?

Another added benefit of wood is that you can use it for both indoor and outdoor purposes. wooden floors look beautiful and really open up the space in a room along with maintaining a more hygienic home vs. carpeting that can attract a lot of dust and thereby contribute to allergies. Wicker furniture such as wickers chairs, wicker coffee tables are great and attractive furniture pieces you can add to your patio or sunroom. Think about how many times your Wal-Mart plastic chair broke. Why not invest into something that is durable, beautiful and easy to maintain?

Given the benefits of wooden furniture outlined such as durability, ease of care, affordable price points, eco-friendliness, design variety and richness that wood furniture can bring into a home, you are now better informed to make a decision on your next furniture piece. We encourage you to visit your favorite furniture shops, ask questions and get the perfect wooden furniture chair, table, bed or whatever it may be that you can enjoy comfortably for many years to come.