The best wood for building interior wooden shutters is basswood. The tree can be found from Quebec south to Delaware and the Atlantic coast west to Eastern Kentucky with an average height of 65 feet. Basswood is a renewable resource and careful forest management ensures that the harvesting is done responsibly by balancing the wood growth with wood removal.
Basswood interior shutters are very straight and they also have a fine uniform texture with a very indistinct grain. The wood machines well and is easy to work, screws well, glues well, and it can be stained to a smooth finish.
Basswood shutters do not warp, they are lightweight yet very strong, offer uniform grain for a superb stain finish, and they offer superior gluing and finishing properties.
Oak shutters
Oak is a very heavy wood which makes for very heavy window shutters. Oak interior shutters will add a lot of weight to window jambs, with screws requiring pre-drilling. They aren't suitable
for painting and the louvers tend to warp over time.
Maple shutters
Maple is heavy like oak and produces interior shutters that are very heavy. Maple also requires
that the window jambs be pre-drilled. The wood louvers with maple are hard to tension uniformly.
Poplar shutters
Poplar shutters mill and paint very well. The mineral streaks and green color help make popular
wood unsuitable for staining. For shutters, poplar wood is moderately heavy. The wood is widely available and less costly, although it also produces a lesser quality of wood shutter.
Cedar shutters
Cedar wood mills and finishes nicely, although the color varies greatly for staining. Cedar
is pretty soft and can dent or scratch very easily.
For exterior shutters, cedar works very well. The amazing durability and resistance to decay of
incense cedar makes it perfect for exterior use wherever moisture is presented. Requiring
long service with very little maintenance, it's also hated by bugs!
Alder shutters
Alder is an excellent choice for interior shutters, as the tree is very small. Tall window shutters
using alder wood will require finger joints.
Pine shutters
Pine is a soft wood, with many different species and grades available.
Always remember that there are also poorly constructed wood shutters that will rank very
low on the scale of quality. You should always look for a smooth, well sanded surface, thick
durable paing, glued and doweled joints, and a straight light hardwood. Before you commit
to any shutter company, always request a sample so that you know what to expect.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
Wooden Shutters
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wooden Window Shutters
Almost all wooden shutters are constructed from a solid hardwood. This helps to give the shutters the necessary stability for daily usage. Windows can be a naturally harsh environment, with direct sunlight, fluctuating humidity, and the rapid change in temperature.
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All types of wooden shutters can withstand all of these types of conditions. Wooden shutters are constructed to withstand harsh climates from the intense heat and sun of the tropics to the intense cold of the North. Keep in mind, not all shutters are created equally, as the selection of wood, types of joints, and overall design will determine the quality of the ending product.
In the overall structure of a wooden shutter, the type of wood is very important. All wood is chosen based on durability, weight, straightness, length, and overall finishing qualities. Basswood is one of the best examples, as it builds an exceptional shutter. Basswood also ranks high in just above every characteristic you could possibly imagine.
The joints of the wood will need to be solid and strong in order to create a long lasting wood shutter. Finger joints are also important, as they connect two shorter lengths of wood. The finger joints show through the finish of a painted shutter and may look poor from the start for a stained wood shutter.
Having strong joints between stiles and rails will prevent the two components from separating or tearing apart. The joints should be glued and dowled for the strongest bond and the best overall performance.
By purchasing wooden shutters, you'll get quality shutters at a great price. Before you buy, do your research on the company and make sure that they know what they are doing. If you buy from a reputable seller, you'll get everything you need for excellent wooden shutters,and instructions on how to install them yourself if you wish.
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Monday, February 23, 2009
Woodwork Plans
A wide range of free wood working plans are available on the internet. Indeed you will get valuable information from free wood working plans that can be used for home renovation purposes. On some websites amateur wood workers share their experience, tips and ideas that make up for great free wood working plans. Some free wood working plans that are commonly used are bookcase plans, bed plans, shed plans, workbench plans and entertainment centre plans
Cherry Bookshelf plans :
It consists of 13 pieces that are screwed and dadoed together. The shaping and joinery is done with the help of drill press and a table saw. The bookshelf has slats and pyramid top posts. Cherry wood is used as it is lighter. You can use other types of wood such as quatersawn white oak. For building this bookcase you require screws, screw hole plugs, slates and shelves. The dimensions of these items will differ according to your requirements.
Break Down Chair Plans :
This high backed chair and has no wedges or pegs. You can easily make 2 chairs out of 4’x8’ sheet of good quality plywood. It is very easy to make these chairs.
Antiqued Table plan :
Clear pine is used to make this antiqued beauty. Tools that are required to make this table are trim saw or handsaw, bits and drill, spray bottles, wet rag and belt or orbital sander. Materials that are required to make this table include legs, apron, fastening strips and table top. You also require screw and washer, shellac and carpenter’s glue and 8 hanger bolts. Depending on the size of table you want, you should select the dimensions.
Circular Kitchen Table Plan :
Solid black walnut wood is used to make this kitchen table. The tabletop which has a radius of 2 feet is a perfect circle. The circular top is on a pedestal base which is constructed using laminated bridle joints. Warmth of this wood enhances as tung oil and polyurethane are used for protecting the finish. The contemporary design of this antique table is much more attractive than formal dining style. Jointer, jigsaw, hand router and some other tools are required to make this piece.
Mahogany bed plan : 
This ideal master piece is ideal for any bedroom décor. The bed is made from solid mahogany. The bed with its contemporary style has convenient rail hangers A series of slats are required for supporting the bed. A box spring is not required once you use these slats. Depending on the thickness and length of the mattresses the dimensions of the bed will vary. The dimensions should be such that it should be able to handle queen size mattresses. The bed is designed in such a way that you can disassemble it easily.
Jewelry Box plans :
This elegant case has a simple design. If there are some beautiful small wooden boards in your house then you can make this box on your own. It won’t take you long to build this attractive box. This can indeed be a perfect last minute gift for a friend.
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Running A Wood Working Business
If you want to increase your income and love wood work, then you should maybe about starting a home based business. A person who has good wood working skills can easily start his or her business from home, start small and build a portfolio of your best work.
If you want to make a career in wood working then it is indeed an excellent idea. There are many examples of people who have become rich with the help of wood working business. If you are really serious then it is just a matter of time to become successful in this business. Wood working business can be regarded as a good source of income. If you love to work with wood then there should not be any problem in starting a wood working business.
Many have doubled their income by doing wood working part time. Handcrafted wood is in great demand. If the handcrafted wood has a beautiful design and is of good quality then you can simply ask the price you want from the customer. If you are good at wooden toys then it is indeed a golden opportunity to start a wood working business at home. Children simply love to play with wooden toys. Most wooden products are marketable today.
If you are a skilled worker in making furniture such as cabinets, chair then you should not think twice to start a wood working business. Cabinets and chairs are used every day and also in great demand. Hence there is no way that you will remain idle if you start a wood working business. In fact the orders of making cabinets and furniture will be so much that you will have to hire skilled workers
At present the wood working business is booming. Hence there is no reason that you will be in loss if you start a wood working business. If you have the skill and talent then you can easily make money in wood working business.
If you want to start a wood working business then you should know the requirements for opening this business. More importantly you should be clear about the type of wooden products that are going produce. From the type of wooden products you will definitive idea about the tools and supplies that you will need to start the business.
You can also advertise your business through newspapers to attract potential customers.
You can also create your own website where the clients can directly get a glimpse of your products. A website is indeed a nice way to showcase all your wooden products
You should also the name of suppliers in your city that can provide various woods as well as wood handling tools.
At any cost sub standard material should not be used in making wooden products. Quality is important especially in wooden products that would be used daily. A substandard product will definitely spoil your reputation which will have an adverse effect on your wood working business.
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