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Insider Tips for Wood Wood Furniture     Bedroom . Dining Room . Entertainment          Quality of wood furniture is determined by 2 things: The better the type of wood, the longer your piece will last. All woods used in furniture fall into three broad categories: hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured woods. Higher quality furniture is made of fine hardwoods such as maple, cherry, oak or of "selected" softwoods such as pine. Medium-priced furniture may have a combination of different woods on exposed surfaces. Particle board or 'manufactured' wood makes up some furniture also. How to test the type of wood: ü    First, is it solid wood or manufactured? Wood types listed in order from poor to high quality include:   - Compressed paper covered in a thin plastic wrap with a wood-grain photo finish   - Particleboard with a plastic laminate woodgrain finish   - Particleboard with a thin real wood veneer   - A combination plywood and particleboard with real wood veneers and areas of solid wood   - Solid wood with high quality veneers for high quality and lasting durability ü For solid wood, is it hard or soft wood and what kind? Hard woods usually have a smaller grain and fewer knots both of which add to the durability and appearance. Good construction means longer life. Several wood and construction types may be used in the same piece of furniture. For example, the term solid cherry or solid mahogany means that all exposed parts of the piece are made of solid wood. The frame or other parts not visible to the eye might be of another wood such as gum or poplar. How to test wood construction: ü  Check drawers and doors: do they open and close easily and smoothly? ü Look for scratches, blemishes or missing hardware ü Doors and drawers fit well ü Drawers - have glides and stops - glide easily when pulled - have dust panels - corners are joined securely - insides are smooth and snag free ü Long shelves have center supports ü Doors swing open easily without squeaking or rubbing ü Long doors are attached with sturdy hinges ü Hardware is secure and strong with no rough edges ü Interior lights operate easily ü Entertainment units have a hole for the electric cord ü Heavy balanced feeling when table is rocked ü Table leaves fit properly ü Finish feels smooth to the touch (except distressed) ü Distressed finish has randomly spaced dark marks