The most important choice you will make for any furniture project is what kind of material to choose. The wood you choose doesn’t just affect how the finished piece looks; it also affects how strong it is, how well it can handle movement, and how hard (or fun) the build will be.
The word “timber” is extremely wide, but when it comes to good furniture, we are searching for very particular attributes. These are not the structural timber supplies that are used to make wall frames. We want a stable, well-grained material that can hold a joint and get a perfect finish. This book will help you find the right materials, answer the problems that manufacturers commonly have, and show you how to tell the difference between a sturdy board and one that may warp before the glue dries.
The 7 Most Important Questions for Every Furniture Maker
Most makers start with practical, tactical questions when they look for materials. Here are the short, clear answers to the most common questions about furniture-grade wood.
1. Where can I discover a store that sells hardwood near me?
- You need to go beyond big-box hardware stores to find good materials.
- Look for speciality wood suppliers and stores that only sell hardwood. These companies know what furniture makers require and have “dressed” boards and stable, kiln-dried stock on hand.
- In Australia, look for stores that sell plants that are native to the area.
- If you require a structural part for a rustic outdoor seat, they could even be able to point you to a place that sells hardwood sleepers.
- But for more delicate indoor work, you need the solidity that an expert can give you. Getting to know a local merchant can frequently provide you with early access to the best stacks.
2. What kinds of wood are suitable for furniture that will be used inside and outside?
- The species depends on how it will be used.
- Furniture for the inside of a house puts looks and ease of use first. White Oak and American Black Walnut are two examples of high-quality hardwoods that might work well for these applications.
- You need species that naturally resist rot, bugs, and UV rays for outdoor furniture.
- Native hardwoods like Ironbark or Spotted Gum are typically used in Australia to set the norm for how long things last. These strong, long-lasting woods will always be better than generic outdoor materials and survive longer than softwoods.
3. What are the differences between “rough sawn” and “dressed” (DAR) wood?
- Straight off the sawmill, rough-sawn wood is what you see. It features rough surfaces, saw marks, and sizes that aren’t always the same.
- It costs less to buy, but you need special tools like a jointer and a thickness planer (thicknesser) to turn it into flat, square stock.
- All four sides of dressed all round (DAR) wood have been planed smooth to exact measurements. DAR is “project-ready,” which means it’s perfect for those who don’t have industrial machines, but it costs more.
4. How do I know if wood has been appropriately seasoned or dried in a kiln?
- Using damp, “green” wood to make furniture is a surefire way to ruin it. It’s important to have a reliable amount of moisture.
- For furniture inside, try to get 8–12%. A calibrated moisture metre is the only test that is always right.
- If you don’t have one, trust the reputation of the person who sells you wood. Ask directly, “Is this furniture-grade wood that has been kiln-dried or air-seasoned?”
- Kiln-dried wood won’t have any checking (cracks) on the ends, and it will feel lighter than green stock. Properly seasoned wood doesn’t slide around as much and keeps joints stable.
5. Is it possible to employ construction-grade pine to make exquisite furniture?
- Construction-grade pine is cheap, but it is not usually good for exquisite furniture.
- This wood is treated quickly, has a lot of water in it, and typically has knots, pitch pockets, and chemical treatments (such as H3 for decking wood and structural framing).
- After being put together, it is quite likely to warp and shrink.
- “Clear pine,” which is a type of wood that is better for beginners learning joinery, is a better place to start, even though it costs more. Stick with well-known hardwoods for anything that will be fine furniture.
6. How can I figure out how many “board feet” or “super feet” I need for a wood order?
- Timber, especially raw sawn timber, is sometimes sold by the cubic foot. In North America, the unit is the Board Foot (BF). People often call it Super Feet (SF) in Australia.
- The conventional formula for volume is:
$$\frac{\text{Thickness (inches)} \times \text{Width (inches)} \times \text{Length (feet)}}{12}$$ - This is how much several high-end hardwoods, including White Oak, cost. You figure out cubic metres ($m^3$) in the metric system.
- Always add 15–20% to your figures to account for waste. This allows for matching grains, getting rid of knots, and mistakes made during machining.
7. Where can I get slabs with “live edges” to make tables?
- “Live edge” slabs keep the tree’s original bark line. You may frequently get these one-of-a-kind items from small sawmills, salvage timber supplies lots, or specialised online marketplaces.
- These slabs often need to dry in the air for a long time (sometimes years) before they can be completed in a kiln. This is different from dimensional lumber.
- When you look at a slab, make sure it is flat (not cupped) and enquire if it has been cleaned to get rid of borers. A solid live-edge slab makes a beautiful base for a river table or signature desk.
Deep Dive: How to Choose the Right Furniture Species
Knowing the differences between species, such as a regionally durable native and a classic imported hardwood like White Oak, will greatly influence the way your designs turn out.
Australian Natives: Strength and Personality
- Blackbutt: A strong and flexible hardwood. Furniture makers that want a light to medium blonde colour love blackbutt. It is fairly sturdy and easy to machine because its grain is straight, but wild grain should be handled with care. Blackbutt is also a great choice for tough outdoor uses like flooring and decking timber that gets a lot of foot traffic because it is so dense.
- Ironbark: One of the hardest and densest hardwoods in Australia. Ironbark is known for being hard to work with, but it lasts longer than anything else. Its strength makes it good for heavy-duty structural uses, and it can even be as strong as handrails or exposed beams. Ironbark is a great choice if you want to make strong, architectural furniture that will last for centuries.
- Hardwood sleepers: Large-dimension hardwood sleepers are often thought of as landscape materials, but they are also a cheap method to get a lot of wood for rustic furniture. Be careful, though. These are often green or only partially seasoned, and they can move a lot. They work best for big leg portions in industrial-style designs, not for precise craftsmanship.
Classic Imports and Special Uses
- White Oak: The best wood for making exquisite furniture, cabinets, and floors. People love White Oak because its grain is strong and straight and it doesn’t rot easily. It takes stains nicely and works well with traditional joinery. It does quite well in the timber supplies markets, and people typically choose it for everything from complicated chairs to structural cabinetry parts and even high-end handrails for homes.
Sourcing for a Specific Purpose
- Decking Timber: This type of wood is chosen because it can withstand the weather and last a long time. This area is mostly made up of species like Jarrah, Spotted Gum, or high-quality treated Pine. When looking for decking timber, make sure it is stable and naturally resistant to decay so that it can stand up to the sun and rain in Australia.
- Handrails: Need a type of wood that is smooth, very stable, and won’t splinter to make them safe and comfortable to touch. People enjoy hardwoods like White Oak, Tasmanian Oak, or strong indigenous. The wood must be able to take a good finish and stay straight even when people touch it a lot and their hands might get wet.
The quality of your wood is the most important thing, whether your next project is a simple blonde Blackbutt, a strong conventional White Oak, or a rustic piece of salvaged wood. When you look for wood to make great furniture, don’t just go to any old lumber store. Look for ones who specialise in hardwoods that are good for furniture.
Give the wood time to dry properly, learn about its specific properties (such how dense Ironbark is), and put in the effort to prepare it. The care you put into picking your wood will show in the finished product, which will be both attractive and strong.