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The style and quality of any particular piece will determine how many steps are necessary for its production from beginning to end. Naturally, the more labor involved, the higher the production costs, and these are always reflected in the retail piece.
Furniture construction is a complicated process. It is unnecessary for the designers /consumer to understand few points because they influence quality and cost.
Shaping: For whole pieces that will be made of soild wood or for some parts such as pedestals and legs, the lumber is cut to the desired size by saws.
Carving: Certain types of decorative cut-ting can also be done by machine. For better qualities, the initial work may be done by machine, but hand labor is used for the finishing. Hand carving is found only on expensive furniture because the process is slow and laborious. It must be done by skilled craftsmen who are trained in the art. So the amount of carving done on the furniture affect the costs greatly.
Turning: Legs, posts, and bases may be shaped by a turning lathe, which cuts symmetrical indentations to form a design.
Fluting: Lengthwise grooves may be cut into posts, legs, and pedestals.
Reeding: The term reeding refers to a decorative process of applying parallel rows of beaded mountings that project from the surface. It is the opposite of fluting, and it too is used on legs and posts
Joining: The various sections of a piece of furniture should be joint firmly and securely. Careful joining is an art i.e. of a most important to the construction, yet most of it is hidden from view in a finished piece. Nails, screws and glues are used to pull sections together at point of strain. Nails are least desirable because they leaken the grains of wood. However they are commonly used to provide quick and cheap furniture. Instead of nails and screws, bolts are desirable. They are frequently used for added security. A metal washer under screw protects the framework of chairs, tables and drawers. In high quality furniture, the joints are as neatly and perfectly matched as possible there is also a smooth and tight good quality groove which is used to hold the surface together.
Recognizing different kinds of furniture joints can help in determining the quality of antique furniture. If you discover that a chair is constructed using mortise and tenon joints as opposed to dowel construction, for example, you can be sure it's a high quality chair. The same is true about furniture with dovetail construction on the drawers as opposed to rabbet joint drawers. Dovetails are a better joint and will last indefinitely.
Now a days there are various types of glue which are available in the market and have heat and water resistant qualities. Vegetable glue and milk product glue are less desirable and less costly. Old fashion glues wood eventually drive out but new furniture which is produced by new type of glue are firm, durable and having non-dying agent. They are resistant to ordinary hazards to use such as heat & moisture. Some common glue that are used in construction of furniture are vegetable and synthetic glue.
Vegetable glue are prepared by cooking starch & does not provides good hold. However synthetic glue like vermicol are also used and make a firm & good holding furniture joints.
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