When it comes to making fine furniture, the materials that are used are paramount to the final product. Today, we are diving into the world of fine furniture and the materials that are used to handcraft them, namely the different types of woods, stains, and finishes.
Benefits of Amish Furniture
While Amish furniture is sure to look stunning in your home, this fine furniture is coveted for more than just its beauty. Amish furniture is highly sought after because of its durability, customizability, and originality. Every piece of furniture is uniquely beautiful because of the beauty of Mother Nature. Because Amish furniture is handcrafted by Amish fine furniture builders rather than mass-produced in a factory, the quality of the materials and craftsmanship is far superior. Furniture purchased from an Amish furniture retailer is likely to outlive mass-produced pieces, outperform them in quality, and utilize far more sustainable practices in building.
Common Types of Wood Used in Amish Furniture
When you’re buying solid wood furniture, the type of wood that you choose is a pretty important factor. Although Amish furniture doesn’t always equate to a certain type of wood, there are types that are better suited for the process and therefore have become common in the making of fine Amish furniture.
Oak
Because of their slow-growing nature, oak trees yield wood that is denser and harder than many others, making it a great material for building solid wood furniture. In addition to its density, oak is also more durable than many other types that are frequently used in mass-production. Oak is resistant to scratches, stains, dust, and more, meaning that furniture made from oak is likely to outlast most other furniture pieces. You may end up with an heirloom item of furniture that will be in your family for generations.
Cherry
Cherry wood is unique because of its pink, rosy and brown undertones. As it ages and gains exposure to sunlight, its original color darkens and becomes more akin to mahogany. Since it is a bit less dense than oak, cherry is better suited for easy carving and polishing to create a beautiful, but still sturdy, piece.
Hickory
Hickory, being one of the hardest woods, is great to use in the Amish furniture crafting process. Its hardness provides an increased level of durability, but hickory is also easy to stain and polish. Hickory is the best of both worlds.
Soft Maple
Although maple is on the softer side, with the appropriate amount of care, fine furniture enjoyers can keep a beautiful maple piece safe and looking beautiful. Maple’s unique natural colors take on stains and polish well, offering you an enjoyable grain and color pattern for your bedframe, nightstand, or kitchen table.
Hard Maple
This hardwood selection is one of the hardest available, which makes it a perfect selection for dining or kitchen tables, work surfaces such as office desks. The compact minimal grain differentiates it from
Elm
Elm features unique patterns of interlocking grain that isn’t just there to look pretty. The special grain pattern actually contributes to the sturdiness and durability of an elm piece, as well!
Walnut
If you’re looking for that sweet spot between beauty and practicality, walnut is a winner every time. Walnut’s beauty is in its varying natural tones, caused by the changes in color between its sapwood and heartwood. This natural variance in the color tone of the wood makes it the perfect type of wood for a larger piece, such as a dining room table. In addition to beauty, walnut is a dense wood that can take a punch. Solid walnut furniture is resistant to denting, making it both a beautiful dining table, as well as a sturdy one.
Popular Stains Used in Amish Furniture
Along with the type of wood that you select, the color of stain that you choose will also make a big difference in the final look of your piece of fine furniture. A stain is the dye that is applied to a piece of wood once it has been handcrafted into a piece of furniture. These dyes soak into the wood and typically serve to make the wood pieces uniform in color or to blend new pieces in with existing furniture. Although any Amish furniture retailer is likely to have many stains for you to choose from, here are a few of the most popular.
Michael’s Cherry
Among the most popular stains chosen for Amish furniture, Michael’s Cherry is one of the most versatile stains because it is compatible with just about every type of wood. It is medium toned with gold and red undertones that help to highlight the natural grain of the wood that it is applied to.
Asbury
Asbury refers to a medium brown tone that is a good middle option between lighter and darker woods. Often, Asbury stains will also come in a few different varieties, some with darker or lighter color tones.
Onyx
Among the darkest of wood stains, Onyx is quite popular due to its semi-smoky hue. The deep brown color tone is dark enough that it may appear to be closer to black, at times.
What is the Difference Between a Stain and a Finish?
Stains and finishes are often lumped into the same category; however, they are very different. Stains refer to the dye that a piece of wood is treated with in order to adjust its color, while a finish refers to a process that seals the wood to protect it from moisture. Finishes are applied after a stain is applied to natural wood, or after wood is sanded if the natural wood color is the final look.
What is the Finishing Process for Amish Furniture?
Sanding
The process of finishing a piece of Amish furniture begins with sanding. Sanding down all areas of the natural wood results in not only a smoother, more even surface, but also a surface that is able to more easily accept the stain that will be applied next.
Staining
After the wood is completely sanded, the piece of furniture undergoes a process called staining. Staining the wood refers to the application of a dye to change the color of the natural wood. In some cases, the person finishing a piece of fine furniture may opt to utilize paint at this stage instead of a stain. Unlike paint, stains are transparent and allow for the natural look of the wood’s grain to still be seen.
Drying
After application, the stain must be given time to dry before moving onto applying a finish over the top of it.
Finishing
Once the stain is entirely dry, a finish can be applied over the top of the stain to protect and keep moisture out of the wood. The Amish prefer to use a catalyzed conversion varnish in lieu of wax, lacquer, or other polyurethane finishes. This provides a superior level of protection against moisture, scratching, and is offers a smoother surface.
Shop Woods, Stains, and Finishes at Amish Elegance in Knoxville, TN
At Amish Elegance, we take pride in crafting fine, handmade furniture that never sacrifices quality. From the best materials to the finest craftsmanship, Amish furniture that will last you for generations to come. With the help of our in-house designers, you can choose the piece of your dreams, down to the specific wood, stain, and finish that you’re looking for. We believe that furniture should be built the right way every time—the Amish Elegance way.
To view our pieces, woods, stains, and more, visit our website or shop in-store with the help of our in-house designers at our showroom located at 613 N. Campbell Station Rd. in Knoxville, TN. Contact us with any questions or to schedule an in-home consultation today at (865)-392-6000.