I'm not a woodworker, but I'm making a major furniture purchase, and I
could use some advice on the construction methods used by two
different makers of mission-style dressers.
One manufacturer uses quartersawn northern red oak with 5/4 tops,
english dovetail joints, dust covers between each row of drawers, an
"extra large heavy duty wood rail system with oversized steel end
supports," and solid 1/2-inch cedar drawers with ply cedar bottoms.
However, this manufacturer also uses 1/8" plywood (3-4 layers, all
wood) for the backs of their dressers. From reading previous posts on
this group I know that new furniture manufacturers almost always use
plywood in their pieces these days (even new Stickley!). However, 1/8"
seems pretty thin to me.
The second manufacturer doesn't use plywood anywhere in their
dressers: "All drawers, backs, sides, bottoms, dust covers are 100%
solid oak," and the backs are finished. They also use english dovetail
joints (done by hand), solid oak drawers, solid oak dustcovers between
drawers, and center wooden glides.
However, this second manufacturer uses appalachian white oak that is
NOT quartersawn. Rather, they use a process they call "strip
quartersawn." Now, I can't find a reference to this term in any prior
posts on rec.woodworking. This is how the maker describes the process:
"By purchasing inch to inch-and-a-half flat sawn board, boards can be
ripped into one-inch strips. These strips are then rotated or flipped
90 degrees to expose the hidden ray flake pattern and then glued
together to form normal width boards. The board can then be used to
construct mission furniture with large amounts of beautiful ray flake
pattern showing - often more than true quarter sawn. Same look -
better price and environmentally sound."
Looking at the pictures online, I can definitely see the strips where
a lighter strip adjoins a slightly darker strip with a different
grain. However, I can also see similar contrast lines in the
quartersawn dressers, just fewer of them, and the grain does seem much
richer and more variegated in the quartersawn pieces.
So, my question is, of these two dressers, which would be considered
the better quality piece? The one that uses quartersawn planks but has
a 1/8" plywood back, or the no-plywood piece that's constructed with
the thinner strips?
Unfortunately, I can't afford a custom-made piece made with
quartersawn planks and no plywood (from my research it seems that a
custom 12-drawer mule chest would cost at least $6K-8K, which is about
3 times what I have to spend.) So, I will have to compromise
somewhere. I'd appreciate any advice you can offer to help me make an
informed purchase.
Thanks,
T. Panella
The one you buy is the one that's best..
The process you mention is used all the time in furniture purchased at the
K-Mart Wal-Mart level, though with some indefinable east Indian wood. The
size of the pieces from which the larger were made isn't really material.
Orientation to the quarter makes most joints invisible from two paces
anyway, where a trio of face-sawed boards might be obvious from five times
that. Even the quartered red might show a gross disruption along a glue
line visible from a distance.
"tpanella" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm not a woodworker, but I'm making a major furniture purchase, and I
> could use some advice on the construction methods used by two
> different makers of mission-style dressers.
>
> One manufacturer uses quartersawn northern red oak with 5/4 tops,
> english dovetail joints, dust covers between each row of drawers, an
> "extra large heavy duty wood rail system with oversized steel end
> supports," and solid 1/2-inch cedar drawers with ply cedar bottoms.
>
> However, this manufacturer also uses 1/8" plywood (3-4 layers, all
> wood) for the backs of their dressers. From reading previous posts on
> this group I know that new furniture manufacturers almost always use
> plywood in their pieces these days (even new Stickley!). However, 1/8"
> seems pretty thin to me.
>
> The second manufacturer doesn't use plywood anywhere in their
> dressers: "All drawers, backs, sides, bottoms, dust covers are 100%
> solid oak," and the backs are finished. They also use english dovetail
> joints (done by hand), solid oak drawers, solid oak dustcovers between
> drawers, and center wooden glides.
>
> However, this second manufacturer uses appalachian white oak that is
> NOT quartersawn. Rather, they use a process they call "strip
> quartersawn." Now, I can't find a reference to this term in any prior
> posts on rec.woodworking. This is how the maker describes the process:
> "By purchasing inch to inch-and-a-half flat sawn board, boards can be
> ripped into one-inch strips. These strips are then rotated or flipped
> 90 degrees to expose the hidden ray flake pattern and then glued
> together to form normal width boards. The board can then be used to
> construct mission furniture with large amounts of beautiful ray flake
> pattern showing - often more than true quarter sawn. Same look -
> better price and environmentally sound."
>
> Looking at the pictures online, I can definitely see the strips where
> a lighter strip adjoins a slightly darker strip with a different
> grain. However, I can also see similar contrast lines in the
> quartersawn dressers, just fewer of them, and the grain does seem much
> richer and more variegated in the quartersawn pieces.
>
> So, my question is, of these two dressers, which would be considered
> the better quality piece? The one that uses quartersawn planks but has
> a 1/8" plywood back, or the no-plywood piece that's constructed with
> the thinner strips?
>
"tpanella" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm not a woodworker, but I'm making a major furniture purchase, and I
> could use some advice on the construction methods used by two
> different makers of mission-style dressers.
>
> One manufacturer uses quartersawn northern red oak with 5/4 tops,
> english dovetail joints, dust covers between each row of drawers, an
> "extra large heavy duty wood rail system with oversized steel end
> supports," and solid 1/2-inch cedar drawers with ply cedar bottoms.
Sounds good. Pay particular attention to the dovetail it self. Is it
sanded smooth? Many manufacturers use english dove tails and leave the
rough finish.
>
> However, this manufacturer also uses 1/8" plywood (3-4 layers, all
> wood) for the backs of their dressers. From reading previous posts on
> this group I know that new furniture manufacturers almost always use
> plywood in their pieces these days (even new Stickley!). However, 1/8"
> seems pretty thin to me.
The back panel is used to close the cabinet on the back side. If the back
is fastened in the body of the panel, not just around the perimeter, it will
also help to prevent the piece of furniture fron racking.
>
> The second manufacturer doesn't use plywood anywhere in their
> dressers: "All drawers, backs, sides, bottoms, dust covers are 100%
> solid oak," and the backs are finished. They also use english dovetail
> joints (done by hand), solid oak drawers, solid oak dustcovers between
> drawers, and center wooden glides.
Waterford uses this technique. While it is "Old School" it can have a more
apealing to look as long as the panels do not shrink too much and expose
unfinished wood.
>
> However, this second manufacturer uses appalachian white oak that is
> NOT quartersawn. Rather, they use a process they call "strip
> quartersawn." Now, I can't find a reference to this term in any prior
> posts on rec.woodworking. This is how the maker describes the process:
> "By purchasing inch to inch-and-a-half flat sawn board, boards can be
> ripped into one-inch strips. These strips are then rotated or flipped
> 90 degrees to expose the hidden ray flake pattern and then glued
> together to form normal width boards. The board can then be used to
> construct mission furniture with large amounts of beautiful ray flake
> pattern showing - often more than true quarter sawn. Same look -
> better price and environmentally sound."
Nothing wrog with this as long as you do not mind seeing glue lines every
inch to inch and a half. If you like the look, go for it.
>
> Looking at the pictures online, I can definitely see the strips where
> a lighter strip adjoins a slightly darker strip with a different
> grain. However, I can also see similar contrast lines in the
> quartersawn dressers, just fewer of them, and the grain does seem much
> richer and more variegated in the quartersawn pieces.
>
> So, my question is, of these two dressers, which would be considered
> the better quality piece? The one that uses quartersawn planks but has
> a 1/8" plywood back, or the no-plywood piece that's constructed with
> the thinner strips?
I think the real question here, is which was the cheapest to manufacture.
Each has its advantages. The best would probably be a combination of each
ones better points.
>
> Unfortunately, I can't afford a custom-made piece made with
> quartersawn planks and no plywood (from my research it seems that a
> custom 12-drawer mule chest would cost at least $6K-8K, which is about
> 3 times what I have to spend.) So, I will have to compromise
> somewhere. I'd appreciate any advice you can offer to help me make an
> informed purchase.
Where are you located? I can beat the custom prices you are looking at with
not much effort.