Wood Furniture Production

Introduction

Wood furniture has maintained a strong position in the global market. It fits well with a variety of interior styles, making it a popular choice for homes, offices, and commercial spaces. Wood furniture covers a wide range of styles. You can choose from luxurious solid wood or cost-effective engineered pieces to find what suits your needs.

This article provides a step-by-step look at how RON GROUP produces wood furniture. From selecting the raw materials to applying the final touches.

Wood Classification

The classification of wood for furniture making is based on three main factors: shape, type, and size.  These categories help manufacturers pick the right wood for their needs. They consider factors like quality, cost, and strength.

1. By Shape

2. By Species

Different wood species influence the look, strength, and cost of furniture.

• Hardwoods: Durable woods like oak, walnut, and mahogany, often used for premium furniture.

• Softwoods: Pine and cedar are lightweight and affordable but less durable over time.

• Engineered Wood: MDF and plywood offer cost-effective options for large-scale production.

3. By Size and Thickness

• Thin Boards (e.g., veneers): Ideal for decorative surfaces and finishes.

• Thick Panels: Used for structural elements in cabinets and tables.

• Dimensional Lumber: Precision-cut wood to minimize waste during manufacturing.

These classifications ensure that manufacturers, like RON GROUP, can select the best type of wood for each product. Controlling size and moisture during processing, such as kiln drying, also prevents warping and cracking in the final product.

Wood Cutting

Cutting is an important step in making wood furniture. It transforms raw wood into parts that fit together perfectly. Depending on the type of project and production volume, RON GROUP uses various tools and machines. This helps improve efficiency, accuracy, and precision.

1. Primary Cutting and Sizing

• Sawmilling: Logs are cut into rough planks or panels based on the needed sizes for furniture. This makes the wood easier to work with and helps reduce waste.

• Edging and Trimming: After sawing, irregular edges and defects are removed to create cleaner, uniform panels. Trimmers square off the ends of boards, making it easier to align parts in the next stages.

2. Precision Cutting

• Manual Cutting: Hand saws and panel saws are used for simple, light, or small jobs. Manual cutting offers flexibility and works well for custom designs. Skilled workers are often required to make detailed adjustments by hand.

• CNC Machines: CNC machines handle large volumes, heavy wood pieces, or complex designs. These machines provide consistent accuracy. They can make detailed cuts that are hard to do with manual tools.

Using the right tool for each job makes the manufacturing process more efficient. Manual cutting tools work best for small and flexible tasks. CNC machines are better for heavy workloads and ensuring accuracy for bigger projects.

Drilling

Drilling is important for assembling wooden furniture by making precise holes for joints and fasteners. It ensures stability, alignment, and proper weight distribution across the structure. Depending on the load and design, different drilling techniques and hole types are used.

Types of Drilled Holes

• Blind Holes: These do not go all the way through the material. They are ideal for dowel pins, hinges, or hidden connectors, ensuring a clean appearance.

• Through Holes: These holes go all the way through the wood and are often used for passing bolts through connected parts.

• Countersink Holes: These have a conical opening, allowing screws or bolts to sit flush with the surface. This design improves both aesthetics and functionality.

Drilling Process

• Coordinate Setup: Precise alignment is critical to ensure that components fit securely. For example, chair legs need to be perfectly positioned to provide adequate support.

• Stabilizing the Workpiece: The wood must be clamped tightly to prevent movement during drilling. This keeps the drilling accurate and prevents damage to the wood.

• Joint Type Selection: Choosing the right joint is essential. For furniture that needs to support a lot of weight, like a chair, simple screws (butt joints) aren't strong enough. Stronger connections, such as mortise-and-tenon joints, are required to ensure durability and prevent failure.

The Role of Mortise-and-Tenon Joints

For heavy-duty connections, mortise-and-tenon joints provide superior strength. These joints involve drilling a mortise (slot) into one piece and fitting a tenon (protruding end) from another piece into it. This joint holds the parts tightly together and distributes the weight evenly. It eliminates the need for visible hardware like screws or nails, enhancing both the durability and aesthetic appeal of the furniture.

Sanding

Sanding is an important step in woodworking. It makes surfaces smooth by removing rough spots, imperfections, and old finishes.

Why Sanding Matters

Wood is naturally uneven and may contain surface imperfections. Sanding gets the wood ready for painting, staining, or finishing by smoothing rough spots. It also removes sharp edges, making the furniture safer and look better. For example, rounded corners or smoothed edges prevent potential injuries in everyday use.

Sandpaper Types

Choosing the correct grit depends on the roughness of the wood and the desired finish. For example, coarse grit is better for removing old varnish, while finer grits create a polished surface for staining.

The Sanding Process

• Inspect and Prepare the Surface: Identify areas that need special attention and secure the wood to prevent movement.

• Begin with Coarse Grit: Start with a low grit to remove imperfections, working along the wood grain to avoid scratches.

• Progress to Finer Grits: Gradually use finer grits to achieve a smooth, even finish.

• Check by Hand: After sanding, run your hand over the surface to feel for any rough patches. Manually sand those areas as needed for a uniform result.

Preliminary Assembly

In the initial stages of furniture assembly, glue and mortise-and-tenon joints play a vital role in securing parts together. These techniques ensure both durability and alignment during the final construction. Here's an overview of how the process typically unfolds.

1. Apply Glue

The inside walls of the mortise (slot) and the tenon (protruding piece) are coated with wood glue to enhance the bond. This glue ensures the parts stay firmly connected and resist future loosening.

2. Insert the Tenon into the Mortise

Carefully fit the tenon into the mortise, ensuring it aligns perfectly. In modern woodworking, glue is used to make joints strong. Some designs, like traditional timber frames, may skip glue to allow the wood to move over time.

3. Secure with Rope or Clamps

Once the parts are joined, ropes or clamps are used to apply even pressure, keeping the components aligned while the glue dries. This technique ensures a tight, stable fit and prevents gaps or misalignment during curing.

4. Check Alignment

For delicate or high-stress areas, it's important to keep the structure square. Ensuring proper alignment during assembly helps maintain strength. If necessary, excess glue is wiped off before it hardens to maintain a clean finish.

This early assembly phase is crucial for stability, especially for furniture under heavy use, such as tables or chairs. Mortise-and-tenon joints are strong and look nice. They spread weight evenly, which makes them better than simple butt joints.

Painting and Finishing

The finishing process is essential to protect furniture from damage and enhance its appearance. Several types of finishes can be applied, each offering unique benefits depending on the desired look and level of durability.

Types of Finishes

Number of Layers

Applying multiple layers of finish ensures durability and a professional look. Here’s a common strategy:

• First Layer: Apply a primer or sealer to help the finish adhere properly.

• Second Layer: Add the base coat (for paint) or an initial clear coat (for varnish or polyurethane).

• Third Layer: Sand lightly between coats to ensure a smooth surface.

• Final Layer: Apply the topcoat to seal the finish and provide long-term protection.

The drying and curing times depend on the product used. For example, water-based finishes dry faster, sometimes within two hours, while oil-based finishes may require 24 hours between coats. Following this structured approach helps ensure the furniture remains beautiful and durable for years to come.

Leather Upholstery Installation

Leather upholstery involves several steps to make it both useful and attractive. It usually needs glue, foam padding, fabric or leather, staples, and sewing to create a strong and comfortable finish. Here are the main steps.

Apply Foam and Glue

Start by attaching foam padding to the furniture frame using spray adhesive. The foam provides cushioning and shapes the furniture for added comfort. Batting can also be applied to soften the edges and create a smooth surface before covering it with leather or fabric.

Prepare and Align the Cover

Cut the leather or fabric to fit the piece, ensuring there is enough material to wrap around the frame and foam completely. Pre-sewn panels and piping can enhance the design. Use a sewing machine capable of handling thick leather to sew seams with precision.

Attach with Staples or Tacks

Stretch the material over the frame and secure it using a pneumatic or electric stapler. Start from the center and work outward to avoid wrinkles. Temporary tacks can help ensure proper alignment before final stapling, ensuring a snug and even fit.

Sew and Finish Seams

Use an industrial sewing machine to stitch seams in thicker materials like leather. Machines with high presser feet help manage bulky fabrics. After sewing, trim any excess material for a clean and professional finish.

Check and Adjust

Inspect the piece for any uneven areas or wrinkles. Make final adjustments by stapling loose sections or trimming excess material. Attach a dust cover to the bottom of the furniture to protect the interior components and complete the piece.

Conclusion

Different wood products need specific techniques to make them. Mass production and custom craftsmanship also have different methods. However, the overall process for creating wooden furniture is generally similar to what has been described above. We warmly welcome you to visit and explore these processes in person.

Our primary resources come from videos by RON GROUP, which provide detailed insights into their manufacturing techniques:

• RON GROUP Factory Tour 1

• RON GROUP Factory Tour 2

If you're looking for furniture suitable for restaurants and hotels, check out these collections from RON GROUP:

• Restaurant Furniture Collection

• Hotel Furniture Collection