/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>450574

There are two grades of furniture in this day in age - real furniture and fake furniture.

Real furniture is made out of real hardwoods, solid wood pieces, stained and clear coated.

Fake furniture is made out of a particle or fiber board, and then coated with a veneer or plastic, so that it looks like real wood.

Almost everything is going towards being fake, because the middle class is dying in America, and the poor and lower class is growing. All furniture from the beginning of time - 1960's is real hardwood furniture. From 1970 - present, companies have been making garbage. You can still get real new furniture, but its FUCKING expensive.

I suggest using craigslist to find old used and warn furniture at bargain prices. Consignment shops are also amazing for finding gems.

I have a $2000 (new) Sligh 1963 executive leather desk in my bedroom that I use for my laptop. Its built out of solid cherry, its about three feet deep, so the draws are also three feet deep. I bought it for $85 from someone on Craigslist who had no idea what it was - some Mexican who inherited it from his folks. There's a ton of dumb kids on craigslist selling valuable things to support their drug habit.

Dovetailing is also a sign of quality construction. Google it. When draws are dovetailed, you'll know you've found a hand built piece of furniture that's worth money.

I started building my own furniture a few years ago. Building a solid desk is a TIME consuming process, dovetailing the draws, routing the top, staining, clear coating. It really makes you appreciate the quality of wood furniture, and you'll understand why it costs so much. If you try to "order something", it's going to cost more than its worth, and it will be built with lower quality supplies. Right now is a golden age to find good looking bargains from the 50's and 60's. When that stuff's gone it will be very hard to find real furniture anymore.

Pic - dovetail drawer.