r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	FidgetTheMidget
Comment	Good luck finding "solid wood" furniture. Most furniture from WW2 onward will be of composite construction. Usually ply in the early period with a thick-ish hardwood veneer. During the 60's and 70's the later G-Plan type furniture was ply or particle board with quite thin hardwood veneer. Still ok compared to today's rubbish. (Note: modern G-Plan is G-Plan in name only, it was bought out by a sofa company. DFS?) The later period stuff Argos, Ikea, etc is made with absolute garbage. Most of the "boards" are actually hollow made from really low density chipboard, particle board or MDF often with a printed paper veneer. Think of them as light-use, disposable furniture shaped objects. What you are looking for is that sweet spot of mid-century modern, pre-G-plan. The veneers will be good and the underlying plywood of excellent quality. Good quality ply is dimensionally stable where as actual solid wood moves perpendicular to the grain with temp and humidity. If you want to have them made, expect to pay £££, I was asked by a friend to make a coffee table. I quoted £350 for a simple slab elm table about 180cm x 90cm. This was mates rates, cost of lumber only, no charge for construction. One last bit of advice, if buying old furniture be on the look out for little holes about the size of a pencil lead in diameter. Last thing you want to do is bring in unwanted guests.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/101zww9/the_steamie_tuesday_3_january_2023/j2rex64/
Created	Tue 3rd Jan 2023 12:35pm
Status	normal ()

Good luck finding "solid wood" furniture.

Most furniture from WW2 onward will be of composite construction. Usually ply in the early period with a thick-ish hardwood veneer.

During the 60's and 70's the later G-Plan type furniture was ply or particle board with quite thin hardwood veneer. Still ok compared to today's rubbish. (Note: modern G-Plan is G-Plan in name only, it was bought out by a sofa company. DFS?)

The later period stuff Argos, Ikea, etc is made with absolute garbage. Most of the "boards" are actually hollow made from really low density chipboard, particle board or MDF often with a printed paper veneer. Think of them as light-use, disposable furniture shaped objects.

What you are looking for is that sweet spot of mid-century modern, pre-G-plan. The veneers will be good and the underlying plywood of excellent quality.

Good quality ply is dimensionally stable where as actual solid wood moves perpendicular to the grain with temp and humidity.

If you want to have them made, expect to pay £££, I was asked by a friend to make a coffee table. I quoted £350 for a simple slab elm table about 180cm x 90cm. This was mates rates, cost of lumber only, no charge for construction.

One last bit of advice, if buying old furniture be on the look out for little holes about the size of a pencil lead in diameter. Last thing you want to do is bring in unwanted guests.