| id #CCCCCC; background-color: #ffffff;" /> | | | | screws were both expensive and rare. For dowel |
| There are two basic materials used in upholstered | | | | joints—the two mating parts are aligned and |
| furniture frames used in making living room furniture. | | | | then a hole drilled in to each part so a round dowel or |
| They are solid wood and plywood. It is true that | | | | multiple dowels can be inserted. The dowels are then |
| metal is used in some frame parts. Fiberboard and | | | | glued in place to hold the parts in perfect alignment |
| flakeboard are also used in some promotional frames, | | | | even when treated roughly. Mortise and tenon joints |
| but most manufacturers use lumber frames, plywood | | | | are similar in that the rectangular tenon is typically |
| frames or some combination of the two materials. | | | | shaped on to the end of one of the mating pieces |
| Solid lumber is the traditional upholstered furniture | | | | and a rectangular slot (mortise) is cut in to the other |
| frame material—used because it is easily | | | | piece. The tenon slips in to the mortise and glued in |
| worked, relatively inexpensive, readily available, and is | | | | place so that the joint is strong and secure. Both |
| durable and long lasting in use. The complex shapes | | | | these techniques require some skill and precision in |
| found in traditional upholstered furniture lend | | | | the furniture manufacturing process. |
| themselves to the use of the easily shaped wood | | | | In lower priced upholstery there are some frame |
| and the traditional joinery techniques used in the | | | | construction techniques that are much faster for |
| furniture industry and well known to generations of | | | | production and take less skill to make—though |
| wood workers. | | | | they do not provide the durability of the traditional |
| Plywood has become a substitute for lumber, | | | | woodworking joints. Upholstery manufacturers who |
| especially in less expensive upholstery, it comes in | | | | make “production line” pieces often |
| standard sheets so multiple pattern cuts can be | | | | use long staples to join frame parts |
| engineered to reduce waste and maximize the | | | | together—glue is used on the joints as well on |
| amount of usable parts from each sheet. It is strong | | | | the plain ends of the joined parts and the staples |
| and can be made in a number of standard | | | | hold the joint until the glue sets. The joint depends |
| thicknesses so the parts can be engineered for | | | | completely on the glue strength for its security. The |
| maximum efficiency based on calculated strengths | | | | joint may have “lap joint” |
| necessary. The primary drawback to plywood in this | | | | construction—where the end of each piece is |
| use is that while it is extremely strong across the | | | | cut away by 50% and then “lapped’ |
| face of the board, and has excellent twist and sag | | | | over the adjacent piece to provide more gluing |
| resistance, the edges of the plywood, which will | | | | surface (look at your kitchen or bathroom drawer |
| inevitably be connected in joints, and have screws, | | | | sides-to see a common use of this joint technique). |
| nails, or staples installed, is the weak point of the | | | | The advantage of this joint for furniture production is |
| plywood panel. The fastening materials are going into | | | | that the parts to not have to be as accurately |
| the end grain and edges of the veneer sheets that | | | | machined and aligned. |
| make up the plywood panel where there is no | | | | Classic traditional joint construction is one of the |
| engineered strength. Additionally, the strongest, most | | | | ways to judge high quality upholstery, and solid |
| rapid setting glues contain volatile chemicals to create | | | | hardwood frame components is another. The frame |
| the strong bonds necessary between the veneer | | | | is the foundation of the piece and must not only |
| sheets. These non-eco-friendly adhesives contribute | | | | provide the base to which all the upholstered |
| to indoor air pollution and have been restricted in | | | | components are applied, but it must stand up to |
| many locales—and more to come. | | | | many years of use in your home,--- the |
| There are a number of traditional furniture joinery | | | | rough-housing teens, the Saturday afternoon naps as |
| methods used in making upholstery frames. The two | | | | well as the ladies tea parties—so having a living |
| that require the most precision and are the strongest | | | | room furniture frame that will |
| are dowel joints and mortise and tenon joints. Both | | | | “support’ your family for many years |
| were developed ages ago to join wooden parts | | | | is the reason to ask how the frame is made. |
| together when glues were suspect, and nails and | | | | |