decorative finishes and treatment of furniture
TRANSCRIPT
Decorative finishes and treatment of furniture
Submitted by : Saba Arshad, Amna Ashraf
Materials available for furniture making
Furniture: The word furniture can be defined as:
“The movable articles that are used to make a room or building suitable for living or working in, such as tables, chairs, or desks or the small accessories or fittings that are required for a particular task or function”
Materials for furniture making:
1-Wood
2-Metal
3-plastic
4-Glass
Wood Wood is the most versatile, renewable
and sustainable resource which is why wood is also the most commonly used material in the creation of furniture. Wood is always been and still is the fundamental and universal material for making furniture. The wood which is used for making furniture should be of high quality and properly processed. There are hardwoods and softwoods. Both are used in furniture manufacturing, and each has their own specific uses.
Types of wood1- Cedar:
Cedar is a reddish soft wood. It has a distinctive sweet odour which is why it is extensively used in chest
making, closet lining and household novelties. It is very easy to work
with, uniform in texture and is also resistant to decay leading to its use
as an outdoor house shingle. 2- Chestnut :
It has always been highly valued for small outdoor furniture pieces, where durability is important, as well as fencing and wooden shingles for covering buildings.
3-Chipboard : Chipboard is an artificial wood but from actual wood chips, hence the name. It is widely used for the structural casing of kitchen furniture and cabinets which are then covered with a laminate or wood veneer. It is also widely used for low cost sub flooring. It is only useful in sheet form and cannot be easily used or worked in any other format.
4-Fir:Fir is a fast growing soft wood which is uniformly textured and has a very low resistance to rotting and decay. It is easy to work and finishes well. Fir is used for making furniture, doors, picture frames, window frames, general millwork and as an interior trim. It is also a main component of plywood
Pine:
It has a uniform texture and is very easy to work with. It finishes well and resists shrinkage,
swelling and warping despite having a wide grain. It is widely used in the construction of timber
frame houses, paneling, mass produced furniture, wood pallets and numerous other items.
Plywood:
It is made from numerous thin laminates of wood glued together. Each layer is at right angle to the grain of the other to give it great strength while
also allowing it to remain quite pliable. The thinner the sheet, the more pliable it will be. It is
used widely in the building industry as a sub flooring material or as a structural casing
between walls.
Advantages and disadvantages of wood
Advantages:
Natural look
Resilient and strong
Easy to keep
Easy to clean
Weather resistant
Eco friendly
Disadvantages:
Transportation of wood to urban areas can be expensive. Wood is hygroscopic and it will absorb surrounding vapors loses moisture below the fiber saturation point. Biotic factors can cause decay of wood by mold fungi, bacteria and insects and Abiotic factors like sun, wind, water, fire and certain chemicals can cause deterioration and destruction of wood.
Metals
Metal furniture is a type of furniture that uses metal parts in its construction. There are various types of metal that can be used, such as iron, aluminum, and stainless steel. Iron and steel products are extensively used in many applications, ranging from office furnishings to outdoor settings.
Types of metals used in furnishing
•Wrought iron refers to metal that is hammered or bent into shape as opposed to being cast or poured at a foundry. Wrought iron is good for garden furniture, providing a classic look. It needs much care, though, and can easily rust and corrode if not waterproofed
Steel furniture is popular trend after wrought iron. This kind of furniture is tough and need less maintenance in comparison with wood or wicker. A wide range of steel furniture is hitting the market which includes overall home furnishings. Steel furniture is good looking, elegant and demanding. It can be decorative at both the sections including indoor and outdoor.
Aluminum: Aluminum furniture looks ethnic
and you can browse exclusive range in aluminum such as cast aluminum furniture, aluminum patio furniture, aluminum sling furniture, aluminum wrought iron and stainless steel aluminum. It can add charm to your indoor and outdoor as well which offers durability and comfort. Being well known for its resistance to rust and corrosion, aluminum furniture is perfect for outdoor appearance where it is exposed to the elements. It is high in quality and low in prices.
Advantages and disadvantages of metal
Advantages :
Easy cleaning and maintenanceDurabilityModern styleLow cost
Disadvantages :
Heat absorberHeavy and sturdy
Plastic Plastic is an artificial material that was created
in London. The ability to mould plastic into any form has made it a very popular material for mass produced furniture but also for modern furniture where any shape or form is possible.
Moreover, from this plastic the furniture can be made in all different colors and shapes. It was a big plus for plastic, because this kind of manufacturing with wooden furniture was impossible. Plastic, as material of manufacturing furniture, was promising of great future. In that time the main advantage of furniture was their functionality which was the basic advantage of plastic furniture. Therefore, the plastic was founded as a suitable material.
Advantages and disadvantages of plastic
Advantages : 1-Plastic furniture is inexpensive when compared to wood or metal. 2-It is light weighted, unbreakable. 3- Low or no maintenance cost. 4- Water proof
Disadvantages :
It has a tendency to break or fall apart very easily within a short span of time. It lacks elegance. Especially, when compared to wooden furniture, plastic furniture lacks boldness and elegance. Making plastic furniture is not eco friendly.
Glass They are available in transparent designs which
allow the passage of light through it and minimalistic designs which give the interiors a classy look. One advantage of these is that they can be washed and maintained without any stains for a long time.
Toughened glass is formed from a prepared sheet of ordinary glass which has been heated and then rapidly cooled with cold air, this heating and rapid cooling process results in the outer surfaces contracting and solidifying before the interior, thereby inducing permanent compressive stresses into the surfaces of the glass. This type of glass is suitable for use in furniture manufacture and can even be bent and curved.
Advantages and disadvantages of glass
Advantages of glass:
TransparencyLow insulation qualitySophisticated look
Disadvantages of glass:
Glass in its ordinary form will break under pressure into sharp shards, and is therefore not suitable for use in furniture