Taking good care of your solid hardwood furniture ensures its longevity. It's easy and largely a matter of common sense. Below are some sensible things to consider: Hard Wood Characteristics  You many find differences in wood grain appearances, this a natural effect created during the maturation process. As the tree grows, the older sections in the tree develop thicker, clearer grain patterns, as in Figure 1 Your furniture may be made from several cuttings of the same tree, creating the unique contrast of markings. |
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 Figure 2, shows a section of sapwood common in most timbers, which you may find randomly throughout your furniture. Sapwood and random pigmentation are a common marking in real wood and are not a defect but add to the unique character of your furniture. |
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  Knotting as in figure 3 and 4, is the most common of markings and is the fingerprint of natural wood. These vary in size and occur frequently in natural products. These characteristics is why every piece of our furniture is unique, no two pieces will be quite the same, unlike mass produced veneered or foil laminated furniture. |
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Keep your hardwood furniture looking great Hardwood furniture is made to be used and enjoyed and accidents happen, especially when there are small children at home. Take these steps to keep damage from everyday life to a minimum:
Did you know that up to half the weight of freshly sawn wood is water? Hard wood furniture is crafted from wood that is carefully dried, retaining just enough moisture for the furniture to properly acclimatise to the relative humidity in your home. The wood in furniture continues to exchange moisture with the air, shrinking and expanding in response to changes in relative humidity. Like your own skin, solid hardwood furniture's natural response to extremely dry air is to lose moisture and shrink a bit. The halves of an extension table may part slightly or a few tiny openings may appear on a solid wood surface. This will correct itself as the relative humidity rises, and the hardwood absorbs enough moisture to expand slightly. Parts of your hardwood furniture may absorb excess moisture from the air and expand, perhaps causing drawers to stick. Once again, this will correct itself as your home's relative humidity decreases. The quality and sturdiness of your hardwood furniture are not affected by these natural changes. Wood Care Tips It's surprisingly simple to protect and enhance hardwood's natural beauty. All that's needed is some care. Here are a few tips from the experts: Hardwood furniture surfaces also can be cleaned with a mild non-alkaline soap and water. Use the suds on a damp sponge or cloth, but be sure to pretest the solution on an out-of-sight-section to make sure it doesn't damage the finish. Dry immediately with a soft cloth and buff lightly, following the grain. Hardwood finishes benefit from an occasional waxing or polishing. A paste wax can be applied every six to twelve months. Remove old wax first with a mild non-alkaline soap and water solution. Avoid waxing urethane-finished furniture. Waxing these surfaces causes them to gather dust and dirt rather than repel it. Repairs made simple Minor damage to solid hardwood furniture can be repaired quickly and effectively with the right materials, a bit of elbow grease, and some careful attention to detail. More complex repair or refinishing jobs are best left to professionals, especially if the hardwood furniture has one of today's "super finishes". Scratch and Nick First Aid When preparing to repair small nicks or scratches, always test an inconspicuous area of the furniture first to make certain the mixture won't damage the finish.
Stain removal Today's high-performance finishes demand special and wood furniture care when it comes to stain removal. While there are countless remedies for stains, some may damage the furniture's finish. If you're at all unsure, you should call a professional refinisher to take care of it. Please also note that Tangkoko can not be held responsible for treatments that you choose to undertake. These common stains often can be treated with do-it-yourself furniture first aid. But bear in mind: always test your remedy on a small area to see if it removes the stain without disturbing or damaging the finish.
Other home remedies During everyday use, your hardwood furniture may be subjected to mishaps and spills which temporarily mar its finish.
This information provided compliments of The Hardwood Manufacturers Association Waxing or Polishing For general cleaning, dusting with a soft cloth will suffice. Most standard household spray polishes contain silicones, which provide a wet 'slippery' sensation when applied to an item of furniture however this will often build up within the wood grain and on the surface of the wood, leaving a white residue. Natural wood needs to be able breathe and contract and expand with differing temperatures and moisture contents and this residue can limit this and ultimately deaden the natural patina or sheen of the wood. Tangkoko do not recommend the use of such products. Tangkoko recommends the use of Fiddes Supreme Wax Polish which contains a unique, environmentally friendly (toluene-free) blend of waxes that naturally enhances the beauty of your wood. This wax is formulated to offer excellent results on bare or sealed wood. Supreme Wax is virtually odour free, easy to apply, and once buffed to the desired sheen level, provides a depth of finish that revives and protects any original patina. Preparation Sand the wooden substrate in stages, working with a medium sandpaper (120 grit), through to a medium / fine grade (180 -220 grit). Always sand in the direction of the grain pattern where possible, ensuring the removal of any blemishes and glue residue prior to the application of Fiddes Supreme Wax. Take care to remove all traces of sanding dust and test the chosen Fiddes Supreme Wax shade on a similar substrate to verify the colour. Application Take a clean cotton cloth, sponge or brush and apply in the direction of the wood grain where possible. To obtain a uniform colour, always wipe evenly, blending the Supreme Wax over the whole surface area by exerting a small degree of pressure when applying by hand. Take care to lightly remove any excess Supreme Wax immediately with a separate, clean absorbent cloth, again following the direction of the grain pattern. Leave to dry for around 3 minutes, and buff to finish with a soft cloth. The application of additional coats will deepen the existing colour / shade and significantly enhance the resulting sheen level. |
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