CHEAPER MANUFACTURERS

HIGH-QUALITY FURNITURE

MATERIALS

• Use lower grade wood that has blemishes and or knots. Most do not dry or “cure” their wood to the right percentage of moisture which can lead to warping and splitting with humidity and climate changes.

• Many low-end manufacturers use MDF on case good surfaces instead of solid wood or multi­layered veneers.

• Quality selects casegood manufacturers that use the highest grades of wood and multi-layered veneers which are chosen for clarity of grain and strength.

• We insist that their wood is kiln dried within a range of 6 to 8% of moisture content to prevent splitting and warping of wood with temperature and humidity changes, and to ensure the stability of the finished product in different climates around the country.

VENEERS

• Most use thin veneers that can easily peel and flake with minimal pressure or abrasion. They apply only a single layer of veneer which easily splits, check (separate and bubble up), or peel loose.

• Veneers made from paper made to look like wood grain are commonly used on the sides of case pieces and sometimes on desks and dresser tops.

• Many manufacturers use exotic veneers to create decorative wood patterns that are impossible to create using solid woods.

• Thicker, multi-ply veneers that add to the structural integrity of the piece.

• Advanced veneer application methods prevent peeling and flaking.

• Unique 5 ply process prevents warping and cracking and creates a beautiful finish with the  natural wood grain and marking clearly defined.

GLUE

• Use inferior or inadequate amounts of glue, which can cause veneers to lift or separate from tops or sides.

• Premier manufacturers that use glues that have strength and pliability that are not affected by humidity changes.

TABLE RUNNERS

• Low-end table runners are lightweight steel or wood, and can’t support leaves.

• Table runners are constructed using heavier weight steel or heavy solid wood.

ASSEMBLY/CONSTRUCTION/ENGINEERING

DRAWERS

• A common cost cutting technique on drawers is to glue or staple them at joints instead of utilizing sturdier but more expensive dovetailing techniques.

• Cheap runners are also used on drawers, and can include metal or plastic.

• Wooden drawer guides that run smoothly, do not squeak and don’t rust or break.

• All drawer sides and backs are constructed with hardwoods for maximum stability and resistance to warping in both dry and humid conditions.

• Drawer bottoms are constructed of mahogany because of its pleasing grain, durability and ultra smooth finish.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Some manufacturers use staples or nails instead of screws, use fewer corner blocks, and use butt (dado) joints instead of tongue and groove joints.

• Low-end case pieces usually have a minimal selection of coordinating pieces.

• All hardware from our manufacturers is usually custom designed and made from solid brass.

• Glass shelves in cabinets are 3/8 inch thick compared to lower end furniture that uses thin 1/4 glass on shelves.

• Glass tabletops are 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick as opposed to more common 3/8 inch tops used on less expensive tabletops.

OVERALL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

• Basic, non-intricate design, poor quality materials.

• Assembly/construction techniques that are designed to produce quantity, not quality.

• Unique and intricate designs, high quality materials, and assembly / construction techniques that recognize the importance of and pay attention to detail.

• Holds up to regular use and retains its beauty over time

• The manufacturers chosen by XYZ Fine Furniture assemble their casegoods using time tested construction techniques where more hand labor is involved.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

DRAWERS

• Center guides on low-end furniture drawers often do not open effortlessly because of rougher finishing.

• Our manufacturers use hardwood runner center guides to ensure drawers are perfectly aligned with a smooth finish for effortless opening.

• Use dowels and screws with corner blocks, and tongue-in-groove, mortise and tendon, or dovetailed joints at every 90-degree angle. Dowels are glued then screwed to all stress points during assembly.

• 8 corner blocks are used to maintain its strength and stability.

• Drawer sides and backs are dovetailed in a box lock construction which minimizes stress at its weakest points.

• This type of drawer construction is not common at lower levels of quality because of the time it takes to perfectly align drawers into a case piece.

STRENGTH AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY

• Items are often shipped unassembled from the factory and are difficult to assemble due to poor alignment of component parts.

• Corner blocks on low-end case good bases are stapled or nailed which means the base seams will eventually come loose and the integrity of the piece will start to break down.

• Items are fully assembled at the factory which enhances structural integrity.

• Remain intact - Corner blocks on case goods are double doweled, glued, and screwed in place to prevent loosening of joints and to keep structural integrity intact.

• Helps prevent warping and splitting - We buy only “floating tops” (for solid wood furniture) which utilize clips instead of nails or screws, and allow for expansion and contraction.

• Even more “added strength” with wrap around bases, and panels and heavy base rails.

• Easily leveling on uneven floors with door cases featuring adjustable levelers.

• Less durable - Interested in quantity, not durability and quality which means furniture often falls apart after in a few years. Attention to craftsmanship and detail are not very important.

• More defects - Less labor is also used to monitor the details of construction which often means more defects.

• Casegoods are constructed with the least amount of materials and the least amount of labor to minimize costs.

• Utilizes hand labor and skill from time-honored furniture-building processes. Craftsmanship cannot be delegated to machines.

• Quality checks are more frequent with multiple inspection procedures systemized into the manufacturing process.

• With our manufacturers, all components are hand carved by highly skilled craftsmen and then programmed into robotic computer routers that make sure every cut is precise.

• Our manufacturers only use the best woods which means large amounts of inferior wood are discarded.

• Joints and seams are built to tighter tolerances.

FINISHING

• Dull finish - Often done mechanically, with no rubbing to bring out the grain of the wood product and create luster.

• Easily rubs or wears off - Sometimes finishes are applied in fewer steps ... thin applications just wiped or painted on using spray guns. They can be rubbed or worn off.

• Flaking - finishes not allowed to cure can begin to flake with changes in humidity.

• Hiding Defects - Sometimes, finishes are used to hide defects or wood with poor or no grain. The color of these finishes are often muddy or blotchy in appearance.

• Colors are clear and rich.

• The surfaces are very smooth to the touch having gone through multiple sanding processes.

• Each piece should go through a process to bring out clarity and depth of wood grains, to protect the wood against changes in climate, and to protect against common spills and stains.

• The last step in the high end finishing processes is waxing and rubbing: first with the aid of a hand buffer and finally with a soft cloth and lots of elbow grease