subject: The Machining Process For Pine Furniture [print this page] I have previously written about about the journey of timber, from pine trees in remote parts of Scandinavia, to processing factories in Denmark. These large factories, kiln dry, machine to exact thicknesses, lengths and widths,and make sure that the end product, which is pine furniture boards, meets quality requirements, and is ready for export around the world. Whist Europe is the main user of these boards, a surprisingly high amount is sent to the Far East ,especially China, for their furniture products, exported perhaps back to the UK, the rest of Europe, and their main market of America and Canada.
The European road system is a very good way of delivering large items like timber. the United Kingdom is reached by a fast ferry service, of roll on roll off for the drivers.
After the trucks, have delivered through their network. the final stop is the pine factories scattered around the country. The furniture panels , arrives on pallets and is fork lifted off and kept in a dry location,stored until needed, and then moved to the machining area,where the first stop is the cross cut saws.The machining schedule always starts with these saws, the daily requirements or volumes are identified by the machinists , for example twenty pine wardrobes requires forty sides, all exactly the same.
pine is known as a soft wood, because compared to oak or mahogany, it is very soft. there is a disadvantage to this, as the wood is easier to tear, or for knots to be ripped out. The machinists must take great care, and time for the machines to do their work,especially when shaping and molding. In other words , forcing timber onto the machines, rather than going at the machines own pace, is not only dangerous , but also it is not the way to achieve smooth finishes.
The end result is by a mixture of individualism, and mass production, and a wealth of pine furniture, from bedside cabinets to large farmhouse tables are produced.
