- What does it mean when a salesman tells you a piece of furniture
is “solid wood”?
Solid wood can mean one single board
or plank of lumber having no additional wood glued to it. Very few
pieces of furniture made today will utilize single boards. However,
many antiques have single board tops and sides. Several wood boards
glued together is also considered solid wood. Furniture makers have
found that a board of this combination is less likely to warp or
split than one single board.
- What is the best way to get rid of white rings or watermarks on
my wood furniture?
To repair watermarks, the moisture
must be released by carefully sanding the finish film back below the
damaged area. The key to this repair is to stop short of cutting
completely through the finish film and exposing the wood underneath.
Using any one of the following materials, apply the material onto a
dampened cotton cloth, not directly onto the finish film. Rub the
affected area gently in the direction of the grain. Then dry and
apply furniture wax to another clean cloth and buff. SUITABLE
MATERIALS FOR WATER MARK REPAIR:
- Baking soda
- Creamy white appliance polish
- Ammonia (non-soapy, not the detergent type)
- Boiled linseed oil mixed with either pumice or rotten stone.
(available from your hardware or paint store)
- Which furniture is better, solid wood or veneer?
The answer is that both are good.
Neither solid wood nor veneer is, by itself, a measure of better
quality furniture. If comparable craftsmanship is used, the quality
of a solid wood or veneered piece of furniture should be the same.
- What is the best way to dust my furniture?
Twice a month dusting of all your
furniture is recommended to keep dust from accumulating. Use a soft,
lint-free cotton cloth such as an old t-shirt or baby diaper. Very
lightly dampen (NEVER wet) the cloth with water. NEVER use a dry
cloth since it will grind the dust into the finish film causing
scratches.
- What do I do to treat scratches on my wood furniture?
Superficial nicks and scratches that
have cut into the finish film, or even cut all the way into the wood
underneath, can be camouflaged with color treatment and waxing. Wax
sticks in a variety of colors are available from the hardware store.
Paste shoe polish applied with a cotton swab can be used to color
the exposed wood. If the scratch is just on the top of the finish
film and not very deep, a simple buffing with a furniture wax will
restore the luster to the finish.
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