Lately our shop has encountered an issue that I think we need to discuss regarding that 'high dollar' furniture you just bought from the quality furniture company down the street.
When you buy furniture you are paying for whatever the salesman tells you are buying. This is not necessarily the furniture you get. You must do your research and due diligence BEFORE any money is exchanged.
On the market now is furniture that is not pure wood. Trust me on this, we have seen plenty of furniture that is sold as 'wood' that is not the real thing. Okay - technically it started out as real wood - but the form it ends up in your lovely table or dresser may not be what you believe it to be.
Let me explain by example. Yesterday we received a large dresser and headboard/footboard combination that had been in a fire and needed some slight repair and refinishing. The finish was a dark brown/black coating, and when we were surveying and estimating what the pieces needed the client was astonished - and a little upset - when we showed him the fact that under all the darkness of the finish the top of his dresser was actually pressed cardboard. According to the gentleman the furniture was sold as solid oak (with the price tag to match), but due to the heavy finish and the lack of knowledge on his part he did not get what he believed he had purchased. He was not particularly happy with this. Since the dresser was not really solid wood we could not strip and refinish the pieces and make them like the client had requested.
We also got a student desk that had a paper coating that was printed to look like wood, and the client also wanted a strip/refinish. Not possible. Under that paper is chopped/pressed wood held together with lots and lots of glue. The only real wood was the drawer fronts and the pine strips that held the desk together. The only viable option would be to cover with a quality paint.
People in the market for new furniture need to know what they are looking for. There are so many choices that I think the look is the most important thing to most people, not necessarily quality. If you are wanting something that will last a lifetime (and more) make sure you know what you are getting. Just because it is heavy it does not mean it is solid wood. Glue is heavy in large quantity too! If you need to call someone that works in wood in order to be a more knowledgable consumer, then do so. It will not only save you money in the long run, but it will also save you some embarrassment and shock when you find out that you've made a great mistake and will eventually have to replace what you thought would last forever!