Reclaimed wood is an excellent material for constructing fine reclaimed wood furniture pieces. Not only is reclaimed wood cheap, but it is also beautiful, and you can get amazing results when you make furniture from reclaimed wood.
Reclaimed wood is readily available. And the choice of furniture pieces is also vast. It would be best if you decided what you will make, how you will make it, and how you will finish the project. Get the best results by planning and using this simple checklist of making perfect reclaimed wood furniture.
Easy Ways to Make Reclaimed Wood Furniture
Choose Your Wood and Your Construction Style
First, pick your type of wood and match it to a construction style that suits this wood. There are many different types of reclaimed wood. Each class has other qualities. You will get the best results when you match these qualities to an appropriate style of construction. Sometimes, you will choose the type of wood based on the kind of furniture you are creating. For example, oak and cherry wood is famous for rustic furniture pieces. Beech and maple look great in contemporary furniture.
Dry Kiln Your Reclaimed Wood
You need to ensure that your wood contains the correct amount of moisture since it will shrink and warp in average temperatures if it does not. You can dry wood in a specialist wood kiln. If you do not have access to a wood kiln, you can air-dry the wood. You should dry the wood in a place with many good airflows and make sure that you also treat the wood for insects.
Check for Metal
Metal nails or other pieces of metal left in the wood will damage machinery and tools. Remove the metal as best you can.
Make Your Plans
Make it easier to get great results by drawing up a plan for your wooden furniture. You can produce a complicated project or a simple sketch, depending on your needs and your skill. Whatever type of plan you choose, make sure that it shows how you will construct the furniture so you will not make a mistake in the construction.
Prepare Your Wood for Construction
Next, rough mill the lumber. Cut the wood roughly to the right length and width. Plane the wood to get the thickness you need. Glue boards together to get the right consistency. Clamp them together to set the wood in place. Next, sand the edges smoothly.
Assemble Your Reclaimed Wood Furniture
Now is the fun part! Construct your furniture using your choice of joinery. There are many options for joining wood together. The method you use will depend on your selection of furniture and the type of wood you are using. It would help if you also considered the level of quality you want the furniture to have. Use dovetail joints and mortise and tenon joints for complex and high-quality furniture. You can use screws and nuts, or butt joints, for cheaper furniture.
Finish Your Reclaimed Wood Furniture
Now you need to apply a finish to the wood to make it last longer and look good. Use a lacquer or tung oil. Once you have applied a lacquer finish, you need to apply wax to get a good sheen to the wood. The more attention you pay to the finish, the better the quality of the final furniture piece. It is worth spending some time on the finish, so you get the best results possible.
