Wood has been an eternal favourite for many across the globe. And many
of the enthusiasts and interior designers specify that when craftsmen make
pieces of furniture through ply or sheets, it is more economical and does not
cause a drastic effect on our eco world. However, there are families across the
globe who prefer wood over any substitute to build their pieces of furniture.
So, it all depends on taste, purpose, and budget. Let us see what choices we
have.
Plywood
These are wood veneers derived from the logs of softwood and also of hardwood. These are typically glued but in some cases, they are pressed or heated through elaborate processes.
Why plywood is a preferred choice?
- Non-expandable when exposed to extreme temperatures.
- Non-shrinkable
- Resistant to cracking
- Sturdier than a log of wood
- Does not need to be transformed like a log of hardwood or softwood to withstand varied temperatures
- Better stable surfaces
Popular Types
- Softwood plywood:
This plywood is derived from popular softwood
like pinewood, cedar or birch wood. Because of its sturdier nature, it is
used in the making of heavier articles of furniture too like dog houses,
shelves, tool sheds at home etc.
2. Hardwood plywood:
This kind of plywood is veneered from
oak, birch woods, walnut etc. IT is usually made of more than seven
layers. To sustain heavy woodworking projects, the veneers must be glued
at the proper depth and angle. Musical instruments, wood casings, sports
equipment, and, of course, furniture are all examples of undertakings that
require a robust frame.
3. Lumber core plywood:
It is a special type of 3ply wood where a thick wood core is laid down on the surface and the sides, 2 thin veneers are glued together. This is a combination of plywood where the outer surface is made of hardwood using maple, birch wood and the inner surface is where various types of softwood are glued together to form a sturdy surface. The inner surface helps nail screws and nails as the inner surface is soft, but to balance the sturdiness of the piece of furniture, hardwood plays a vital part.
4. Marine plywood:
This plywood uses water-resistant adhesives and these are extensively used in the making of plant boxes, decks, benches etc.
5. Overlaid plywood:
It adheres to the traditional method of manufacturing plywood, which involves bonding wood veneers together with waterproof adhesives. Because the wood veneers are bonded with intense heat and pressure, overlay plywood is available in either medium or heavy density.
6. Structural plywood:
It is a great wood for durability especially in making frames and buildings. But because of their high-grade durability, they are not used in the building structure as the cost will increase exponentially.
7. Tropical Plywood:
It is the Asian counterpart of softwood plywood grown in the Philippines, Indonesia which is handsomely shipped to all parts of the USA and UK. It is greatly loved for its a-graded quality and also for the denser layers that make it a unanimous choice.
8. Flexible Plywood:
It can be easily bent into curved parts for constructing frames and also in making pieces of furniture making process. It is popularly known as hatters in the UK as, during the Victorian era, it was used to make stovepipe hats.
9. Veneer core plywood:
It has everything. It can withstand high abrasion, can be easily bent, unique ability to hold huge weights, and is soft at the surface so that nails and screws can easily be nailed without much effort.
10 Apple Plywood:
This is the most distinguished type derived from both softwood and hardwood where multiple layers of alder and birch are taken together and are laminated together. Post lamination both strips look as one with the same colour and grain texture.
Wood
It is the basic raw material to make a piece of furniture as per your choice, selection, purpose without crossing your budget line.
Popular wood types
There are two types of wood used in making pieces of furniture- solid wood (hardwood and softwood) and engineered wood (mixture of solid wood and synthetic raw materials).
Solid wood: It comes directly from the log of wood or lumber/timber. There are two types available.
- Hardwood: High-quality furniture is made from hardwood trees like hickory, maple, beech, oak, mahogany, and walnut which are deciduous trees and they grow slowly.
- Softwood: These are less dense than their counterparts. Softwood comes from trees like pine, spruce, fir, birch. These are evergreen trees and they grow quickly.
Engineered wood: Also contains wood but there is a mix of synthetic raw materials.