Sustainablility
All the timber used by English Hardwood Furniture to produce furniture is sustainably sourced as locally as possible. With our own sawmill facility (pictured) near our workshop in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire, we are able to source timber from within a 20 mile radius (from farmers, tree-surgeons, etc.). The trees we acquire are usually very mature hedgerow trees of great character. Often, in the case of oak where lightning or wind damage to the crown has allowed the spores of the beef–steak fungus to enter, a wonderful natural staining occurs producing a myriad of shades and deep, rich browns.
Our main supplier of prepared timber is John Boddy Timber, whose policy on sustainability is backed by Forest Stewardship Council membership.
Properties of English Hardwoods
OAK
Properties: hard and durable, resistant to rot due to dampness, therefore suitable for outside structures. Widely used in furniture making. It's unique grain pattern which appears in boards that have been ‘quarter sawn’, i.e. radially cut is known as figure or flower, and is caused by the ‘medullary rays’.
Variants of English Oak
Pippy oak: an effect which looks like cat’s paw marks over the surface of the board.
Burr oak: as above, but much more dense.
Brown oak: a brown stain which grows through the tree, caused by ‘beef steak’ fungus attack while the tree is still growing.
Tiger oak: as above but in a more stripy form.
Bog oak: oak which has been preserved in a peat bog for centuries, black in colour and very rare!
ASH
Properties: as hard as oak but not resistant to rot when wet, therefore only suitable for indoor use. Extremely resilient timber often used for the shafts of tools. Suitable for furniture, the heart wood being a warm brown colour often referred to as ‘Olive Ash’. The sap wood is also used but is very pale in colour making it ideal for staining.
ELM
Properties: Hard durable and usually with a very ‘twisty’ grain, elm was used exclusively for the seats of Windsor chairs because of it’s stability and resistance to splitting. Dutch Elm disease has decimated the stocks of Elm in this country although it is still available, imported from northern Europe .
SYCAMORE
Properties: Fine grained, rather featureless white timber mainly used in the frames of sofas and easy chairs.
Ripple Sycamore: quite rare and an accident of nature, this wood is highly prized by furniture makers. When polished, the surface really does appear to ripple!
BEECH
Properties: A very dense, even grained wood favoured by furniture manufacturers. Light orange in colour, it shows very little ‘figure’ in its grain.
SWEET CHESTNUT
Properties: Hard and durable. Resistant to fungal attack in damp conditions. Good furniture making material.
Traditional Methods of Furniture Making
Mortice and Tenon joint
This is the most common joint used in furniture making. Note that it is the shoulders of the tenon which keeps the timbers square to each other whilst the size and depth of the tenon provide strength. In cabinet making we mainly cut a 3/8 tenon and give it added stength by putting a dowel or peg through it. When making tables we may use a 5/8 tenon with 2 larger dowels for extra strength. Where the tenon extends right through the morticed member we sometimes use a wedge hammered into the end of the tenon to expand it slightly and thereby making it impossible to retract.
Dovetail Joints
Mainly used in the construction of drawers.
Panelling
In cabinet making panels are used for doors, sides, backs, etc. These are referred to as ‘floating panels’ because they are not fixed or glued to the surrounding members but are held captive within a groove; hence they are able to shrink or expand without cracking.
Fielded Panel
Where there is a step to reduce the thickness of the panel so that it fits into the groove.
Tongue and Groove Jointing
Principally used for joining boards in, say, bookcases. Some times a ‘bead‘ is incorporated to emphasise the vertical line.
Stop Bevels and Mason Bevels
Stop bevels as the name suggests stop before the corner of, for example, a cupboard door. Mason bevels run into the corners.