Red Oak Archives - Solid Custom Heirlooms

Which wood is better Walnut or Oak?

mattmcowen — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 23:14:25 +0000

Oak vs Walnut wood furniture

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we pride ourselves in building custom furniture from some of the best hardwoods in the world: Oak and Walnut. And while both of these wood species are extremely durable, long lasting and beautiful, they each have their own qualities that make them uniquely special and suited to different applications.

But many customers will ask which one is better. Both Walnut and Oak are hardwoods that fit a similar category in the solid wood hierarchy. They are extremely durable, have tighter grain patterns than most other woods, and have a beautiful grain pattern. However, each have their own unique qualities that make Red Oak and White Oak wood good for one thing and Walnut wood good for another.

Comparing Oak and Walnut color tones

Is Oak or Walnut better? It depends on your personal preference and for what type of wood the furniture is used for. Both species are high quality furniture hardwoods that are known for their color and special grain patters and will last for generations. Walnut is primarily known for its deep brown color while Oak is renowned for its strength, high density and pronounced grain pattern. Let’s dive into the Oak vs Walnut discussion to find out what wood is best for your project.

Walnut wood characteristics

Walnut is a medium-density hardwood that is good for furniture like cabinets, interior flooring, and beds. It is also widely used in gun stocks, guitars and pianos, among other musical instruments. The dense wood creates a low, sweet resonance that is pleasing to the ear.

Walnut is a beautiful species of wood, with it’s darker parts giving way to lighter shocks of color. It is loved by craftsmen because it is easy to shape, consistently keeps it’s shape after a project is compete, and is impact-resistant.

Walnut wood grain is beautiful, which goes through the light brown wood to the darker sections. Walnut has a deep dark brown color reminiscent of chocolate or coffee with streaks of other colors including cream, yellow, blue and sometimes green. Walnut is the darkest wood that we offer and we never add stain to its natural color.

Walnut downsides

However, there are some downsides to this beautiful wood. It is somewhat softer than other hardwoods such as Oak, Cherry and Maple. That means that while it can take a beating, it will scratch and dent easier. If you choose walnut for children’s furniture, table tops , flooring or other high-wear surfaces, you will need to take special care to protect the naturally smooth finish.

Walnut is also less insect-resistant than Oak or Maple. If you know that bugs are an issue in your area, then Walnut should not be your first choice, even with the best wood stains. Walnut and oak floors both get the job done, but oak wood is stronger.

Does Walnut wood crack?

Walnut wood will not crack if it is kiln dried and finished properly. If it is not then it will crack like any other hardwood.

Advantages of Walnut

- Walnut is easy for wood workers to shape
- Walnut is good for musical instruments
- Walnut is impact-resistant
- Walnut is beautiful
- Walnut’s dark coffee color is truly unique

Disadvantages of Walnut

- Walnut is more expensive than other hardwoods
- Walnut requires more care than other hardwood species
- Walnut is softer that other hardwoods
- Walnut is less insect resistant than Oak or Maple

Oak wood characteristics

Oak has long been one of the most sought-after woods for furniture because of it’s strong, durable nature and good looks. It is some of the densest, hardest and strongest wood that is offered by Solid Custom Heirlooms. If strength and impact resistance is your top priority Oak should be at the top of your list.

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we offer both Red Oak and White Oak. Each of these sub-species have their own advantages and disadvantages that differ from each other that make them better suited for different applications.

White Oak vs Red Oak

White Oak

White Oak Comes from the American White Oak tree. It is characterized by its light color and prominent “rays,” giving it a subtle yet attractive grain pattern. It’s also known for its strength and durability.

What is White Oak good for?

White Oak is good for making strong, high quality furniture and flooring. This means that you get a very strong, hard wood that does not pick up nicks easily. It is good for everything, but shines in high-impact applications like tables. White oak is the most durable wood we sell, in general.

The color of white oak is very trendy, with it’s light beige and white giving a striking look to any piece of furniture made by it. It also more of a straight grain than red oak, and can be sanded down to a smooth finish.

What is White Oak not good for?

However, there are some disadvantages to White Oak. Because of its popularity, White Oak is a bit more expensive than Red Oak, as it only grows in the northern hemisphere. This makes the supply low, so it becomes more expensive through demand.

It has a very distinctive color, having that white, straight grain. If you are going for a darker look, we suggest going with Walnut or Red Oak.

Red Oak

Red Oak furniture comes from the Northern Red Oak, a deciduous tree that produces hard, heavy, yet porous lumber. Red Oak is slightly less dense than White Oak but still very durable.

What is Red Oak good for?

Red Oak is good for furniture, flooring, and cabinetry. It is extremely dense and strong, resisting most of what can be thrown at it. It will last for decades if cared for properly, and it has the added benefit of being both sustainable and lower in cost than other Hardwoods. Red Oak grows quickly in many parts of the world, meaning that there is a lot of it. That lowers the cost.

Red Oak also has a warm pinkish red to yellow color with a bold grain pattern, making it a striking wood to look at. Red oak is a straight grained wood, with a straight grain pattern.

What is Red Oak not good for?

Red oak has a pronounced, porous grain pattern. Red Oak grain can be felt by hand even after careful sanding and buffing. This leads to a pronounced texture that will show through most finishes.

Red Oak is not as hard as White Oak. If strength is the most important, then we suggest white oak.

How to decide between Walnut and Oak furniture

Oak wood is more dense and durable than Walnut. If your new furniture will receive a high level of wear from kids, dogs or just about anyone else, Red or White Oak is strongest choice.

Oak is less expensive than Walnut. There is a lot more variety for hardwood out there, meaning that there is a higher supply. This makes Oak cheaper than Walnut.

Oak wood has a higher insect resistance vs Walnut. Oak wood is more bug resistant. If there are a lot of wood-eating bugs in your area, then it is safer to go with Oak.

Oak wood has more variety to choose from. There really is only one type of Walnut wood. That means that you are locked into a certain look with Walnut. Oak offers more options, with more chances to nail that perfect look.

Oak can be stained to create a wide variety of colors while Walnut is best left to its natural color.

Walnut wood is beautiful and rare. Walnut wood has a striking beauty to it. This beauty is heightened by it’s rarity. It is harder to find good Walnut. So if you are going for the ultimate statement piece, choose Walnut.

Is Walnut or Oak better?

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think that hardwood makes the best furniture and both Oak and Walnut are favorites! Whether you want a simple platform bed for your Queen size mattress or an elaborate California King luxury bed, we are here to help. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of beds hand made from high quality American hardwood. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or type of bed, please contact us and we would love to help you create your dream bed!

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Is Oak the best wood for furniture?

mattmcowen — Sat, 13 May 2023 18:40:14 +0000

What type of wood makes the best furniture?

Here at Solid Custom Heirlooms we build all types and styles of bedroom furniture – from platform beds to nightstands and dressers. We feature 7 wood choices: Ash, Cherry, Maple, Wormy Maple, Red Oak, White Oak and Walnut, and while all of these choices make quality, long lasting furniture, there is one species that has been used throughout American history more than any other: Oak.

Many people feel Oak is the best wood for furniture because it is strong, durable enough to resist everyday wear and tear, and looks great in a wide variety furniture styles and finishes. Oak is good for fine furniture, flooring, cabinetry and all types of high quality woodworking.

Both Red and White Oak trees are a sustainable resource and grow abundantly throughout the United States. Furniture made from Oak is NOT the most expensive wood as compared to other choices, yet can be expected to last for many decades of trouble free use.

There was a time in the not so distant past where most American bedroom sets – and all home furniture for that matter – were made from Oak. But modern American décor tastes have changed and other furniture grade hardwoods have become more popular. Even though often more expensive than Oak, Cherry and Maple are now our most requested choice for furniture.

But Oak still has a special place in many people’s hearts and we certainly still get plenty of requests for it. White Oak bedroom furniture sets in particular are a growing design trend. This blog will explore the primary types of this wood: Red and White Oak.

Red Oak vs White Oak Solid Wood Furniture

Red Oak and White Oak are two different but related wood species. Red Oak gets its name from its pink to yellow hues and is known for its pronounced circular grain pattern. White Oak is typically beige to gray in color with darker streaks and a less distinct grain pattern. Both types are commonly used for furniture, cabinetry and flooring. If you have an older American home with original hardwood floors, chances are it is made from one of these two types of Oak wood.

Red Oak furniture

Red Oak furniture comes from the Northern Red Oak, a deciduous tree that produces hard, heavy, yet porous lumber. Red Oak is slightly less dense than White Oak but still very durable. Red Oak is good for furniture, flooring, and cabinetry. Red Oak is resistant to moisture, making it suitable for high-humidity areas where other woods may be prone to rot or cracking.

What are the disadvantages of Red Oak?

- Red Oak is porous. Red Oak is identified by the open pores between its growth rings. While this does not cause a problem when it is used to build furniture – it would never be appropriate for holding liquid such as wine barrels which are made from White, not Red Oak.
- Red oak has a prominent grain pattern and texture. Many people feel that the grain is part of the beauty of Oak, but keep in mind that no matter how much it is sanded and buffed, Red Oak will always have a grain on the surface that can be felt when touched. If you are looking for a perfectly smooth finish then you may want to take a look at Cherry or Maple.
- Color. While beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder, the pink to gold tones of Red Oak are less popular than they’ve been in the past! With a trend towards brown and gray tones, White Oak is now much more popular than Red.

Red Oak wood pros and cons

Red Oak Pros

1. Red Oak is sustainable and grows throughout the world
2. Red Oak is extremely dense and strong and will last for decades if cared for properly
3. Red Oak lumber is lower in cost vs other hardwood species
4. Red Oak has a warm pink to yellow color with a bold grain pattern

Red Oak Cons

Red Oak grain can be felt by hand even after careful sanding and buffing
Red Oak has a porous grain that can make it tricky to finish properly
Red Oak is not as hard as White Oak
Red Oak’s color is not currently as trendy as White Oak or Maple

White Oak furniture

White Oak Comes from the American White Oak tree, Quercus alba, and is characterized by its light color and prominent “rays,” giving it a subtle yet attractive grain pattern. It’s also known for its strength and durability. White Oak is good for making high quality furniture, flooring, and also is prized for use in wine barrels both because of its waterproof grain and the flavor it imparts to the wine as it ages.

What are the advantages of White Oak wood?

- White Oak’s neutral beige, brown and gray colors are currently on-trend!
- White Oak has a tight, straight grain that will add character and texture to the overall décor of the room without being overpowering.
- White Oak is naturally resistant to water and rot, which makes it popular in outdoor applications as well as a very resilient and long lasting flooring choice.

Is Oak expensive?

The cheapest wood for furniture is softwood, typically Pine or Douglas Fir. While lower in cost than hardwood, the age old rule applies – with Pine furniture, you get what you pay for! While it can look good online or on the showroom floor, softwood is generally not strong enough to stand the test of time. Beds made from Pine will often start to creak and squeak after a few months of regular use.

Oak wood provides a much sturdier alternative, and may not be as expensive as you think. Red Oak is the lowest priced hardwood that we sell and is a significant upgrade to cheap softwood or particle board furniture from Ikea or other big box stores. A Red Oak bedroom set not only creates a solid foundation for your bedroom but also looks great and is likely to last long enough to be passed down for generations to come.

What is Pickled Oak finish?

A Pickling wood finish – so called because it preserves, or “pickles”, the wood – is a stain technique similar to whitewash that adds a white or gray pigment to the wood, brightening the color tone and accenting the natural grain pattern. Red Oak is often used for the pickling technique because its porous grain accepts the stain well and creates a classic look. Take a look at this example of a Red Oak dresser with a Pickled finish – what do you think?

Why is Oak furniture the best?

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think that hardwood makes the best furniture and Oak is one of our favorites! Whether you want a simple platform bed for your Queen size mattress or an elaborate California King luxury bed, we are here to help. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of beds hand made from high quality American hardwood. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or type of bed, please contact us and we would love to help you create your dream bed!

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Solid wood vs plywood

mattmcowen — Sun, 07 May 2023 21:42:48 +0000

Plywood or solid wood: which is better?

Customers often ask – is plywood or solid wood better? When buying a new piece of furniture, customers want to know if natural wood is actually worth it. The short answer is: YES! Solid wood is simply superior to plywood. Not only does it look better and last longer, but real wood will save you money in the long term.

What is the difference between plywood and solid wood?

Plywood is a manufactured product made from thin layers of wood (plies) sandwiched together with binders and preservatives, then compressed and heated. The result is a large sheet of material that has a very good strength to weight ratio and can often be lower in cost that a solid wood equivalent. Plywood is ideal for cabinet sides and backs, interior shelves and other surfaces that are not commonly seen during everyday use.

It’s important to keep in mind that the binders, adhesives and preservatives used in plywood often contain chemicals that offgas toxic fumes for months or years. If you are sensitive to formaldehyde or other preventives, you may want to avoid plywood in your home, or at the very least make sure it is sealed very well.

If you are sensitive to chemical offgas, insist on furniture made from solid wood with a low VOC finish such as Tung Oil.

Why is plywood used?

Now, this is not to say that good quality plywood is useless. Plywood is great for areas that need lightweight strength while not being seen. At Solid Custom Heirlooms we use high quality plywood for things such as drawer bottoms, cabinet backs and some interior bed pieces that are hidden from view during day to day use.

We use plywood for these applications items because of its strength to weight ratio. For example, to use hardwood for the unseen back of a dresser, we would need to use a 1 inch thick panel. Compare this with a 1/4 inch thick piece of plywood which has similar strength while being significantly lower in weight and consumes less space. This not only creates a design that is better, but it reduces shipping costs by reducing weight.

Not all plywood is created equal

Before we continue, we must point out that not all plywood is created equal.

We only use very high quality plywood made in the US. This plywood is usually made from real wood veneers glued together with resin, and then pressed under thousands of pounds of pressure. This creates thin sheets of a highly dense and durable material that is very good for retaining heavy loads over long periods of time.

But, this is for very high quality plywood. It is similar to marine grade plywood, but marine plywood is treated with waterproof glue. Ours is finish grade plywood.

However, your average “big box store” piece of furniture is not made with this material. Rather, it is made with a low cost type of plywood also known as particle board – a sheet material made from wood scraps, chemicals and glue. You can learn more about the disadvantages of particle board here.

Often the manufacturer will put a sheet of wood veneer made out of natural solid wood over particle board to make it look nice, but it will come apart under any serious pressure.

You are in essence buying the wood version of Spam. Put too many books on a shelf made with that stuff and it will snap in half. So much for the decorative veneer!

Why is solid wood better than plywood?

At this point, many of you will ask, “this American plywood sounds pretty good. It seems stronger. Why not make everything out of this laminated plywood?” Well, there are things that good quality solid wood can do that engineered wood simply cannot.

First, strength is not the same as durability. And second, there are qualities of real wood that plywood is simply incapable of matching.

Strength of plywood vs solid wood

Have you ever seen a professional weight lifter? They are really strong at certain motions. However, try to make them stretch in ways that they do not usually do. What happens?

They get really stiff or hurt. Plywood is the power lifter of the woods we use. They are really good at holding heavy things.

However, if you knock them against something, those strips of veneer will come unstuck from each other. Plywood gets chipped. The plywood strength is often not compromised, but it starts to not look very good. It gets damaged.

Real wood is durable

However, natural wood is durable and gets better over time. It is elastic. It pops back. It is like a scrappy endurance athlete. It may not be able to lift twice it’s body weight. But it can take the same movements again and again, while staying the same. It is simply more durable.

This is partly due to the wood fibers in solid wood. The strength from these fibers make solid hardwood ideal for cabinets dining tables and dressers.

Hardwood’s unique qualities

Hardwood is beautiful. It simply is. It is solid and dependable, yes, but the first thing you notice when you look at a beautiful piece of Oak furniture is it’s intricate outer layers, its straight wood grain patterns and polish. You can tell that it is high quality.

Because of that stability, it’s beauty will never diminish. Also, hardwood can be shaped into intricate shapes that bring out it’s grain. Plywood by nature cannot do that.

Hardwood has the added bonus of saving you money by being durable. If your furniture never breaks, it never needs to be replaced. It can be repaired and last for generations.

Pricing

The beauty of hardwood is that it ends up being cheaper than plywood in the long run. Since hardwood is more durable you can expect it to last for decades, outlasting your average plywood. While solid wood furniture might be more expensive upfront, it is worth the cost in the long term.

5 disadvantages of plywood

1. The edges of plywood show the induvial ply layers and must be covered or painted
2. Plywood is difficult to refinish and repair if damaged
3. Plywood is not moisture resistant, and can warp or separate if exposed to water or high humidity climates
4. Plywood is made with chemicals and adhesives that can offgas toxic fumes for months if not years
5. Solid wood simply looks better than plywood

Wrapping Up

Simply, both plywood and solid wood furniture have different advantages. Those advantages often complement each other, which is why we use both when making furniture.

Plywood is great for strength, and hardwood is great for durability and beauty.

Simply, an engineered product simply cannot match a product that comes straight from nature.

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What are the disadvantages of particle board?

mattmcowen — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:23:28 +0000

The temptation of cheap furniture

We’ve all been there. We need a piece of furniture, don’t want to spend a lot of money, and find ourselves at Ikea or browsing Amazon, pondering a low cost piece of furniture and thinking “I know it’s cheap, but how bad can it be?”

After many years of helping customers design, build and repair furniture of all different grades and types, we are here to answer that question: How bad can it be? … well, honestly… pretty bad! The reality is that low-cost furniture is low in cost because it is made with materials that simply won’t last no matter how careful you are with them. And the primary culprit? Particle board.

Particle board, also known as particleboard, chipboard or low-density fiberboard, is an engineered wood product manufactured from sawmill shavings, wood pieces, Urea-Formaldehyde, synthetic binders and resins used as bonding agents. This mix is exposed to high heat, then pressed and extruded into dimensional shapes.

Veneer is a thin layer of wood or synthetic material that is glued to particle board to give a finished surface. Some veneer can be real wood, while most is made from melamine which is a type of plastic. Plastic veneer can be very realistic with wood texture stamped into the materials and color variations that look very real at first glance. Laminated particle board and melamine particle board are types of veneered particleboard.

The Honest Carpenter gives a very good explanation of the disadvantages of particle board on his YouTube channel.

What are the risks of particle board?

Particle board swells when exposed to moisture

The primary disadvantage of particle board is that exposure to even small amounts of moisture will cause board to swell. Because it is made from wood chips and sawmill shavings, once swelling occurs there is no way to make it return to its original shape. Minor swelling can be unsightly while more significant swelling can cause the veneer layer to warp and crack, cabinet doors to stop closing and shelves to not fit properly.

This photo shows a particle board with melamine veneer cabinet shelf that was damaged by everyday use.

Veneered particle board chips and peels easily

Another issue is that the surface can be easily damaged during normal use. This is because particle boards typically have very thin melamine (plastic) veneer layers that simply break or crack when exposed to everyday use. Furniture corners are especially susceptible to this issue as well as any surface that receives regular use.

Particle board contains 12.4% Formaldehyde

If you are concerned about Volatile Organic Compounds – VOCs – in building materials for your home, it is best to avoid particle board furniture, cabinetry and shelving.

According to the Website My Chemical Free House, most particle board is made with 12.4% Urea-formaldehyde (UF). For this reason manufacturers highly recommend that all exposed surfaces be sealed either by the covering with thin layers of glued veneer or the application of a sealing agent such as a specialized sealing product.

A disadvantage of particle board is that unsealed material will release or “outgas” formaldehyde primarily in the first 2 months of life, and will continue to outgas for up to 5-10 years depending on the thickness of the material and exposed unsealed surface area. It is a good idea to have new particle board products rest in an open space such as a garage or even outside for 2 or more months before bringing it inside the house.

How can you tell if wood is real or particle board?

Look at the end grain of the wood. If you see real wood grain you have real wood. If you see layers of compressed materials you have particle board or plywood. One of the disadvantages of particle board is that this compressed material can separate over time or when exposed to moisture.

Feel the grain of the wood. Real wood has a natural grain pattern that never repeats or has seams. Veneered particle board can be “too perfect” to be real, or lack any texture or grain.

Look for seams or cracks at the edges. Veneer is glued to a particle board base and therefore a seam will always be able to be observed under close inspection. Small cracking is also very common, even on brand new pieces of furniture.

Look at parts that are not covered with wood veneer first. If you have a cabinet or bookshelf, one trick is to look at the small holes where the shelf supports insert into the material. With a paper clip or small knife, scrape the inside of the hole and observe what material comes out. If it looks like sawdust you have particle board material, if you have wood chips or shavings you likely have solid wood or plywood.

Check the price. Particle board furniture is generally lower in cost vs real wood. If the price of a piece of furniture seems to good to be true, it may be.

Particle board vs. solid wood furniture – why we don’t use particle board!

5 reasons we use solid wood instead of veneered particleboard.

Solid wood is durable. Particle board is not. Most particle board furniture ends up in the trash.

Solid wood is water resistant. Spill a glass of water, cup of coffee or other liquid and properly finished wood furniture will not be ruined.

Solid wood can be repaired if damaged. Particle board is almost impossible to repair once it begins to swell or bubble. Real solid wood can be repaired in a variety of ways from a simple re-application of finish to a more in-depth process of sanding, filling and refinishing the damaged area.

Solid wood looks better than veneered particleboard. There is nothing that compares to the color, luster and grain patterns of real solid wood.

Solid wood products will last for generations. Purchasing furniture that is made from quality materials is an investment that will stand the test of time.

Solid wood furniture made in the USA

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think that handmade wood furniture should be accessible to anyone. Whether you want a simple platform bed for your queen size mattress or a elaborate canopy bed, we are here to help. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of furniture hand made from high quality American hardwood. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or type of bed, please contact us and we would love to help!

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