wawawebis asked:


We bought some wood that is “hardwood” - I think it is mostly very hard cherry. It is dried, some might be still cut from this year though. When we burn it, it looks nice for awhile then it burns out and leaves logs that are just charred and black. Why? What should we do? Do we need to mix in other types of less hard wood or something? What is the way to get the best use of our firewood…obviously this is our first fireplace so any good tips are welcome.

DAREN

Marc Hardey asked:


Who doesn’t like furniture made of wood? There’s a quiet beauty to wood, a timelessness, a hushed elegance that endures changing seasons, fads, and owners. When you buy wood stools, you bring the rustic feel of the forest into your home. You remind yourself of lazy afternoon walks through the countryside or a childhood spent clambering up mulberry trees. Whether solid or veneer, though, your wood stools require maintenance to retain its natural beauty.

The Usual Suspects

Moisture, dust, scratches, and dents are wood’s worst enemies. Over the course of your wood stool’s lifetime, expect it to get banged up, nicked, or cracked in more places than you would care to count. Its color could fade from a beautiful mahogany to a pale nondescript, sewer-water brown. After all, you can’t subject your wood stools to heavy use and expect it to stay unchanged.

So, how do you keep your wood stools all loved up and pretty?

Dust Away!

Dust wreaks havoc on your finish. In fact, even a thin film of dust creates scratches on your wood stool. The more dust that gathers on your furniture, the more it peels away at the finish, eventually exposing the wood and making it vulnerable to further damage.

To keep the dust mites away, dust your wood stools regularly. Use a soft cloth. A rough or craggy one will only damage your finish. Additionally, slightly dampen the cloth so you can trap dust instead of sending it airborne. There’s no point in sending dust flying. It will only land gobsmack someplace else, say, on another wood stool or on your dining table.

Polish Up

Polish helps your wood stool keep its sparkle. In choosing furniture polish, though, there is no need to tear your hair and agonize over having to choose between oil or wax.

Here’s the lowdown on both. Oil will make your wood stools gleam with life. However, oil attracts rather than repel dust. When you coat your furniture with oil, it will blend in with dust, thereby making it harder to remove in days to come. But if oil is harmful, why do many people use it? The answer is that oil helps the finish. Note, though, that while it helps the finish, it ends up damaging the furniture. Over time, your wood stools’ finish will lose moisture and will start chipping away.

Ultimately, your wood stools would be better off with wax. Wax protects the wood itself, not the finish. The best protection for wooden furniture is a paste wax that has more carnauba and less paraffin.

Refinishing School

Scratches and dents are as much a part of wood stools as wrinkles are on our faces. Fix scratches with wax sticks from the local hardware store. Then, apply the wax evenly, filling out the hole or the dent to make the surface appear even again. Use wax that closely matches the color of your wood.

When you buy wood stools, you buy them fine and beautiful. With proper care, you can help them stay that way for years, if not decades.



DENVER

Jessica Whittaker asked:


If you’re in the market for some new wood furniture, you might have wondered which wood is right for you. The best choice will depend on the atmosphere you want to create, your own aesthetic tastes, and your budget. Read on for a look at the most popular woods used to make wood furniture.

Pine

Pine wood is arguably the most popular wood for affordable furniture. People love it for its light color and natural texture. It’s also less expensive than many other woods. Pine is very versatile. It is used to make bookshelves, bed frames, baby furniture, dining room tables and chairs, and lots of other pieces designed for everyday use. Furniture designers like it because it’s a soft, pliable wood that’s easy to work with. Though pine doesn’t have the longevity that comes with harder woods, it is commonly used to add a rustic touch to any room. Pine can come with veneers, which are made from hard woods like walnut, or unfinished. The unfinished variety can be stained or left natural for a cozy, down-home look.

Oak

Oak is a very popular choice for furniture construction. Like pine, it is versatile and can be used to good effect in many decorating schemes. It comes in two basic types: red and white oak. The red can range in color from pale blonde to light reddish brown, while the white can range from blonde to light brown or even gray. Oak furniture is durable, making it a good choice for children’s rooms and other areas where it will see daily use. It is also quite affordable.

Walnut

Walnut is a hardwood that can be used on its own or fashioned into veneers for furniture made from softer woods. Its rich brown color makes it an instant classic. Walnut trees are famously easy to work with because they have a grain that runs straight throughout them. As an added bonus, walnut wood is easy to carve and polish, and holds a stain well. The lustrous finish that this wood holds makes it a great choice for furnishings that are built to last, such as formal dining furniture or family heirlooms. Its affordability makes it even more appealing to cost-conscious consumers.

Mahogany

As far as looks and price go, mahogany is at the very top of the wood furniture list. This gorgeous red wood has a hard surface and a medium grain. It is commonly used for high-quality, ornamental furniture. Its price puts some shoppers off, but the beauty of mahogany furniture can last a lifetime; in addition to being very attractive, mahogany is also very resilient and stands up well to the rigors of time and use. When cared for properly, mahogany furniture can survive to be passed down from generation to generation. Most higher-end mahogany furniture is made from South American mahogany. There is also an African variety.

Now that you’ve learned about the most popular choices in wood furniture, you’re all set to pick out new furnishings of your own. Choose a wood that fits your budget and style. Keep your wood furniture clean and polished, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for many years to come.



GLEN