Quartersawn White

Buying Amish Oak Furniture

Historically, when the first Amish arrived in the United States, they settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Today there are many settlements in the U.S., the largest being in Holmes and adjoining counties in northeast Ohio, and in northeastern Indiana’s Elkhart and nearby counties. The forests that surround this communities are abundant with White and Red Oak, as well as Cherry, Maple, Hickory, and Black Walnut. Self-sufficient from the beginning, the Amish have taken full advantage of this bounty of wood to build their own furniture.

As the past century unfolded, the primary Amish occupation of farming has become increasingly supplemented by woodworking. In the beginning, Amish furniture was only available through direct purchase from Amish shops or nearby retailers.

The timber is first harvested and then processed carefully. The wood is first plain sawn or quartersawn, either in an “English” or Amish mill. The plain-sawn technique is the faster of the two. It produces a wide and long open grain effect, accentuated by long dark lines revealing the growth rings. Since they are rough to the touch, these growth rings lines create a wonderfully textured surface. Typically, plain-sawn oak is used to craft most Amish dining tables. Quartersawn oak, on the other hand, is preferred by Amish furniture makers for its gorgeous rayflake grain designs. It’s also really resistant to the effects of atmospheric moisture. This cut of white oak is thus very durable. It will likely not rot, decay, cup, twist, or crack if properly finished.

Quartersawn milling techniques are unfortunately very labor intensive. First, the entire log is cut lengthwise into quarter rounds. Then those quarter-round lengths are cut perpendicular to the growth rings, rotating the length back and forth 90 degrees with each cut. This process creates a feathered or furry grain that is at once beautiful and strong. This process has become easier with the use of saws powered by diesel generators in contemporary Amish mills. These generators are an allowed form of electricity in that the Amish retain control of the power source.

The Amish craftsman then carefully goes through the mill offerings and chooses the perfect lumber for making each unique piece of furniture. With design in mind, he selects pieces that will work together to create a lasting masterpiece for any home. Each custom piece is carefully crafted using generations-old techniques. Slats and support pieces are joined in the mortise and tenon fashion, while dovetail joints are used for drawers. Every Amish creations is carefully finished, with multiple sanding and finish-application steps. When properly cared for, an Amish piece of furniture will retain its original finish for a lifetime.

Contrast to the traditional methods employed by Amish craftsmen in their solid wood furniture construction, mass-produced furniture imported from overseas is usually made of particle board and veneer. Many of these imitation Amish-style furnishings are on the market today, so be sure to carefully inspect any prospective furniture. Puchase of a genuine Amish furnishing constitutes an investment that will grace your home for generations to come.

About the Author

Barn Furniture Mart offers wood and oak furniture in various style such as Traditional, Mission Furniture and Amish Furniture.

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