Welcome to Secrets from the Woodshop, a companion site to Austin Woods, custom furniture builders and designers. Please, visit us often for ideas, tutorials and tips on woodworking, cabinetry, joinery, furniture design and more!

As with any quality purchase, whether it be a piece of jewelry, electronic equipment, artwork, etc the purchase of a quality piece of furniture should be viewed as an investment in a piece that will serve you for many years or generations. The old adage that 'you get nothing for nothing' rings true. You may save on the initial cost of a lesser quality piece, but may need to replace it several times over the years as compared to a one-time purchase with a better quality piece. Why should you choose a better quality piece over a lower-priced alternative? You should expect value for your money when making a quality purchase.

Value can best be described as being a fair exchange for money spent. The difference is in the 'bones' of a piece. Look for solid wood in the structure of the piece, in the corner brackets and cleats, drawer runner tracks where applicable. Support panels and shelving should be at least ¾ inch thick for strength and to resist sagging. Shelves should be of a length that will not sag under weight. Veneers should be laid up on a good composite substrate of high-density material and not low density or porous particleboard, which can react to moisture. Solid wood panels should be uniform in color. On facings and door stiles and rails look for time-tested joinery such as mortise and tenon joints instead of dowels. A lock joint on drawer boxes is preferable to a butt joint; and dovetailed joints are the strongest by far.

Finishes are the icing on the cake, as well as a barrier to the elements. Look for finishes that will resist moisture, alcohol and solvents and not 'amber' with age as with many varnishes and polyurethanes, especially when used over light-colored or whitewashed base colors. Hardware such as door hinges, metal drawer runners and anchor plates should be of the proper strength and quantity to carry the load for the long term without having to be replaced or modified.

Austin Woods
1122 Leopard St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401

Phone: 361-884-6205
Email: Robert Rickard