What does it mean when a salesman tells you a piece of furniture is
“solid wood”?
Solid wood can mean one single board or plank of lumber having no
additional wood glued to it. Very few pieces of furniture made today
will utilize single boards. However, many antiques have single board
tops and sides. Several wood boards glued together is also
considered solid wood. Furniture makers have found that a board of
this combination is less likely to warp or split than one single board.
Which furniture is better, solid wood or veneer?
The answer is that both are good. Neither solid wood nor veneer is,
by itself, a measure of better quality furniture. If comparable
craftsmanship is used, the quality of a solid wood or veneered piece of
furniture should be the same.
What is the best way to dust my furniture?
Twice a month dusting of all your furniture is recommended to keep
dust from accumulating. Use a soft, lint-free cotton cloth such as an
old t-shirt or baby diaper. Very lightly dampen (NEVER wet) the
cloth with water. NEVER use a dry cloth since it will grind the dust
into the finish film causing scratches.
What do I do to treat scratches on my wood furniture?
Superficial nicks and scratches that have cut into the finish film, or
even cut all the way into the wood underneath, can be camouflaged
with color treatment and waxing. Wax sticks in a variety of colors are
available from the hardware store. Paste shoe polish applied with a
cotton swab can be used to color the exposed wood. If the scratch is
just on the top of the finish film and not very deep, a simple buffing
with a furniture wax will restore the luster to the finish.
What is the best way to get rid of white rings or watermarks on my
wood furniture?
To repair watermarks, the moisture must be released by carefully
sanding the finish film back below the damaged area. The key to this repair
is to stop short of cutting completely through the finish film and exposing
the wood underneath. Using any one of the following materials, apply the
material onto a dampened cotton cloth, not directly onto the finish film. Rub
the affected area gently in the direction of the grain. Then dry and apply
furniture wax to another clean cloth and buff.
SUITABLE MATERIALS FOR WATER MARK REPAIR:
1. Baking soda; or
2. Creamy white appliance polish; or
3. Ammonia (non-soapy, not the detergent type); or
4. Boiled linseed oil mixed with either pumice or rotten stone.
(available from your hardware or paint store)
** Taken from HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR OLD & NEW WOOD
FURNITURE by Charles Sutton