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Furniture making has come a long way from the bulky tools used 200 years ago. Carpenters now use routers, planers and electric saws capable of making precision cuts and allowing a tighter fit between pieces. Such new technology has allowed even the novice do-it-yourselfer to craft their own pieces of furniture. Yet the benefits of new woodworking technology does not ensure that wooden furniture will be made with the same quality as those produced 200 years ago.

On sign of high quality in a piece of furniture is the type of wood used to construct it. Woods such as cherry, maple and poplar show the makers choice in using high quality solid wood rather than low quality plywood. Determining the secondary wood used to construct the interior of the piece, such as the drawers, is also an indication of quality. In some cases, the type of secondary wood used, like poplar, can add strength to the piece.

Joint construction is also a sign of quality in wooden furniture. In a quality piece, the woodworker will often use various methods for joining pieces together instead of using nails or screws. Joining techniques like dovetailing drawer sides and lap joining the face frame provide the same strength as a nail or screw but without marking the exterior surface.

Another sign of quality in wooden furniture is the type of finishes used in the staining process. Quality pieces often have multiple coats of stain as well as a protective coating, such as polyurethane. Steel wool is used in between the layers of stain to eliminate any raised wood grain and thereby provides a smooth, glass-like finish to the piece. Any roughness in the piece's surface is a sign that this step has been neglected.

Furniture making has progressed from hand tools to mechanized versions with greater accuracy. With this accuracy comes the challenge to woodworkers to produce pieces with the same high quality found in older pieces. Whether studying the type of wood used, joining methods or staining techniques, the consumer is the final judge in determining the overall quality of the piece.

Learn more about this author, Amanda Hersch.
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