Does Anyone Make Furniture From Pine?

[Woodyoumind?]

I know that pine is a soft wood but don't you love the look and feel of pine for furniture? I think it really looks great but the only problem is the softness of the wood and the scarring and dents it gets. What do you think?

 

[woodywoodpecker]

It's way too soft, Woodyou. If you want your work to last you want to make it out of a harder wood. That's why they don't use a lot of cedar to make furniture now. It is too soft too. After all of that hard work, you wind up with dents, scratches and gouges.

 

[Taggart]

Years ago, I made a bookshelf from pine. I've always had it in a fairly low traffic area, so it hasn't been beat up too bad.

I think that it fades noticeably if it's in the direct sunlight... Has anybody else noticed that?

 

[oldnamvet]

Some people like the "distressed" look and even bang up new furniture to get it. Trying to look old before it gets that way I guess. I have used pine for furniture when I was going to paint it. It gets dinged up in time but is easy to fill the dents and repaint. For kids furniture it is good since it is cheap and is going to be abused. You just have to make it solid.
Most wood changes on exposure to light. Some get darker (like cherry) and some bleach out like pine. There are UV stabilizer finishes that will help but if it is in sunlight, eventually it will change. It is especially noticeable when you have something sitting on it and move it after a few months/years. The shadow where it was will be very easy to see. With a dresser you notice it where the drawers overlap (if they do) the face frame. Even just exposure to light will do it given enough time.

 

[angelicwriter]

Pine's beautiful. My grandfather used to only craft with pine. I think it always adds character to a room when someone has pine furniture or accessories.

 

[Taggart]

It is especially noticeable when you have something sitting on it and move it after a few months/years. The shadow where it was will be very easy to see.

That's exactly what I was talking about.

Also, I removed the finish of a solid body electric guitar when I was a kid and had a satin finish put on. Fortunately for me, the body now matches the light maple neck and I love the way it looks.

I won't be messing with it anymore.

 

[Twiceshy]

I don't really like pine, because of its attributes, but I heard there were ways to make it hold up better.

Has anyone heard of any treatments that might make it a bit hardier, or was someone pulling my leg?

 

[oldnamvet]

Don't know of any treatment but some pines are harder than others. Southern yellow pine is a fairly hard wood. They used to make flooring out of it back in the day.

 

[Twiceshy]

Don't know of any treatment but some pines are harder than others. Southern yellow pine is a fairly hard wood. They used to make flooring out of it back in the day.

Then, maybe it was this harder flooring I heard about.

Of course, possible treatments to create harder surfaces on pine may have been information repeated from something a salesperson said while trying to put one over on a customer.

One never knows.

 

[heretoday]

Also, I removed the finish of a solid body electric guitar when I was a kid and had a satin finish put on. Fortunately for me, the body now matches the light maple neck and I love the way it looks.

I won't be messing with it anymore.

Taggart, I enjoy fooling around with guitars and sometimes rehabbibg distressed bodies, myself. Have you worked on other guitars besides for that one?