buying oak furniture

Stooby2

moneylover wrote:

Stooby2, can I ask which range you decided upon. Re the extended leaves, you probably looked at several tables - did they all use the same mechanism which you are obviously happy with? Thanks

ISTR that they mainly had the same mechanism, which is basically pull the leaf out from under the end and it slots into place quite solidly. Round tables may be different.

It's this table set - we got different chairs though..

http://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/4ft-7-x-3ft-solid-oak-extending-dining-table-6-brown-leather-scroll-back-chairs/602.html

and this dresser

http://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/bevel-solid-oak-large-welsh-dresser/2002.html

I think they're both pretty disaster proof, more likely to dent than chip. The edges to the table are very solid.

Leif

DirectDebacle wrote: »

Yes I'm sure. By wide board I mean wider boards, as in your mothers table for example. Not one single board of infinite width.

Okay, we are in agreement. The narrow strips is why I prefer to buy used furniture and restore it, the wider planks look nicer, especially if knotty or figured.

Leif

moneylover wrote: »

But one question didn't get answered - if a table chips, is it likely to be less of a visible disaster if it is so called 'solid oak' than if it is veneers. Its the edges of table top and edges of extending pieces that I guess are most at risk no matter how careful you are, things happen.
Thanks

If you knock the edge of a veneered table, the veneer may rip, and it may peel. Chances are it won't peel, and you'll be left with a chipped edge, not a big deal. But if you are unlucky, lose veneer may catch on things. Edges finished with veneer can also wear, or even peel if badly made. With solid wood, it can dent or chip, but a good polish can make it look nice, the wax protecting the exposed wood. You still see the ding, but antiques get their charm from 100+ years of scratches, dings, rubs, and polishing.

As I've said, I much prefer solid wood. I don't really like furniture from the eighteenth and nineteenth century which has good quality veneers, over the centuries it tends to crack and bubble. But I don't think you'll live long enough to worry about that.

One last word, take care with some furniture. Sometimes the finish is not even wood, it is a photograph of wood, with lacquers and polish on top. The base is engineered wood e.g. chipboard. If that gets damaged, you can't repair it. I saw a lovely looking table in an expensive furniture shop in Ash Vale, it was far from cheap. When I got down onto the floor and crawled underneath it, I could see that the substrate was a cheap engineered 'wood', something akin to MDF or chipboard. So beware of a fancy showroom, and a lovely 'cherry' finish. It might not be what you think.

Regarding dove-tailed joints, finger joints and mortice and tenon joints are just as good, depending where they are, and there are many other joints. I suspect you might be asking as some makers use the much cheaper to do dowel and biscuit joints, and as far as I know they are strong enough for certain uses, although not as strong as traditional joints. A draw made with biscuit joints and good glue might be okay as it is strengthened by the base, and you don't put much twisting load on draws. Proper joints such as dove tails are very decorative.

Leif

Stooby2 wrote: »

It's this table set - we got different chairs though..

http://www.oakfurnitureland.co.uk/furniture/4ft-7-x-3ft-solid-oak-extending-dining-table-6-brown-leather-scroll-back-chairs/602.html

I um and ah'ed over one of those, as they do look quite nice, and cracking value. The extension mechanism is a tad crude, but it works.

kkgree1

I've used a local Cambridge store (based on Milton Road) for our oak furniture. We've had it for seven years now and been very pleased with it. We bought a table, 6 chairs, sideboard, coffee table and lamp table. If you buy a lot of furniture from them, you can haggle! We actually bought a bigger table from them 18 months ago when we moved house. I managed to sell the old table on Ebay and was impressed that I got £120 for it. Oak furniture does need regular teak oil treatment but we find small scratches don't really show. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Broadsword

We have had lounge, dining room furniture and bed from OFL. We have been pleased with the quality and service and view this from over 2 years in. Chips and scratches etc have been a non issue. Solid oak is very hard and durable. We coated it with wax polish to aid durability

moneylover

everyone is wonderful,thank you all so much. Long post about banks and knocks very helpful and practical. KKgree, my daughter lives in Cambridge and the Milton Road shop is one she is considering, having bought cream painted bedroom furniture there. Its a small world!
Re the OFL tables- my daughter says they have a ridge all round on the top near the edge, a thin deep one which they say is to let the wood move. However my daughter is worried that odd bits of food etc will get down and not be easily removed - or that someone will spill wine and you cant get to clean it up properly. For those of you with an OFL table, has it been a problem????
This is really the very last question, have had so much useful information, MSE never lets me down!!

gmgmgm

For good value, buy second hand. Buying new furniture is like buying a new car...

DirectDebacle

moneylover wrote: »

Re the OFL tables- my daughter says they have a ridge all round on the top near the edge, a thin deep one which they say is to let the wood move. However my daughter is worried that odd bits of food etc will get down and not be easily removed - or that someone will spill wine and you cant get to clean it up properly. For those of you with an OFL table, has it been a problem????
This is really the very last question, have had so much useful information, MSE never lets me down!!

Its just a decorative "V" groove about 3mm deep that has been routered along the joint line. Use a cocktail stick, matchstick or similar to clean it out. Don't use a screwdriver or other metal tool it will scratch the wood.

anotheruser

Look at Dining Room World (also does other furniture).
I got my dining table and chairs from there. No idea what wood it is but it's really good and strong.