What do quality factory furniture makers use for a finish these days?

[Hax Planks]

Nitrocellulose lacquer must be out of favor in most localities by now. I'm pretty sure you can't use it in a factory setting in CA these days, probably in some other places too. Would I be correct to assume most of them use a spray on polyurethane product? This is the case with high quality guitars, where most of my woodworking and finishing experience comes from. Nitro is the traditional finish for quality guitars, but in recent years poly has pretty much become the standard out of necessity, much to the chagrin of purists. Anyone know what the better furniture makers use and how it rates? Can anyone buy good furniture anymore, or does everything come from Ikea and Oak Express these days?

[B a r r y]

As far as factory stuff goes, these guys make some terrific stuff:

Check out the factory tour link. I'm pretty sure they use nitrocellulose lacquer.

California still HAS factories? I thought they were all driven away with taxes and laws.

Here in New England there are plenty of one-off folks who will make good stuff for a price. I know a guy who sells Mohawk finishing products to shops, and I understand he still sells an awful lot of lacquer.

Barry

[Sven Korth]

Hi, have a look at:

in english)

for professional use. Cheers Sven Tischlermeister (prof. joiner with qualification)

"Hax Planks" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: [e-mail]...

[Mutt]

the shop tour, go to finishing. They exclusively make cherry pieces. Several coats of boiled linseed oil and wax.

mutt

[Ed Clarke]

I have a Henredon sofa that cost me about $4k. It's leaking goose down. This does not please me at all. My conclusion, after looking at a lot of stuff in furniture stores is that you have to make quality furniture yourself or have it custom built.

[Leon]

You might fine this fellows work very nice. Expensive but has a Mission look to it.

[Patriarch]

"Leon" wrote in news:KJ6Td.40275$ [e-mail]:

You're right, Leon. Those are really nicely designed.

Patriarch

[Hax Planks]

The prices are astonishing. People really pay $3000 for a coffee table? I'm making a maple and walnut coffee table for my Mom's birthday and I could quit my day job if I could sell them for $500.

[Larry Jaques]

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 21:26:14 -0600, the inscrutable Patriarch spake:

Agreed, but it's more decorative, more of a G&G + Roycroft influence.

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[Leon]

But do you have the room and could you turn out at least 10 of those a month? $500 would be pretty cheap out of a one man operation. Also, marketing your product is half the battle.

[Hax Planks]

I thought the Stickley prices were high until I saw the Michael Colca page. For Stickley it looks like the finish choices are lacquer and oil/wax. I'm surprised that a top drawer (haha) furniture maker would sell their products with a finish that offers so little protection. Not that oil and wax should never be used, but I wonder if customers know how vulnerable it is.

[Hax Planks]

I could probably do 10 a month if it was standardized. If each was custom, it might only be 5 a month. I'm also assuming about 60 hours a week since working for myself isn't that demanding.

[Leon]

Ok, that is the easy part. Do you have a market ready to buy every thing that you build in those quantities? Can you get by on 5 per month with "gross" sales of $2500.

[Hax Planks]

I don't know. I never tried selling any furniture. My sister has a crafts store. I may try to sell some things there just for the fun of it. I could get by on $2500 gross sales for a while. Of course then I would need to pay taxes on it.

[Leon]

I woul jump all over that. Traffic is what you will need.

I could get by on $2500 gross sales for a while. Of course then I

And the cost of materials, supplies, tools.

[Rob Mitchell]

Really?

$500 retail, $250 for you, less tools, rent, heat, labour, materials, insurance, power, advertising, office expenses, accounting, legal, complying with Government safety and pollution regs, and finally taxes.

Forget it. However, if you start a business making coffee tables, and sell a few through your sister, then you might be able to write off all of your tools (and a truck, woodlot, attending tradeshows in exotic locations etc) from your other income (if you are not incorporated, depends on jurisdiction) You might save more in taxes by losing money on the tables!

I'm just finishing a small night table for my daughter. Materials (elm) cost me about $50. Labour, I don't even want to think about it, but many hours, 'cause I'm really slow. Today I was in Borg and saw a completely finished night table, solid wood marked down for $45.

Materials $50 New Table saw $2000 'I love you Daddy'...priceless!

[Mark & Juanita]

Maybe it's just me, but I find the Treter Buffet

to be pretty much gluteous ugly.

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[Patriarch]

Mark & Juanita wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Well, I agree that wasn't my favorite...

Patriarch

[Leon]

It's his beauty of craftsmanship. It's the back view of the mirror where it connects to the dresser that did if for me.

[Leon]

The most valuable part of anything that you build is that part of you that goes into it. Never sell yourself short.