We get asked questions about our custom conference tables a lot, so here are the answers.
I apologize in advance for the lengthy responses - many of the questions involve technical aspects of woodworking and a single sentence answer just won't do. If you would like a further explanation of any of these points, please contact us via phone or email. We love to talk about our work, so don't be shy.
What is my table made of?
We are woodworkers, so our tables are made of wood. (We can incorporate metal, laminates, glass, and stone if desired, but we prefer wood.) It comes in three types: solids, veneers, and engineered panels. All of these come from a tree. After felling, logs are processed into chunks of solid lumber, or sliced into thin sheets of veneer. Some parts of the log are unsuitable for either lumber or veneers - these are made into engineered boards, which we use for the internal structure of the table. Each type of wood is best used for a particular task:
Solid wood: We use solids in places where we need to cut a complex shape, carve a molding, and wherever a piece is likely to be banged during its ordinary use. For conference tables, that means the edge of the table and parts of the base.
Veneers: Many people do not know what veneers are. Both solids and veneers are wood - they are just cut from the tree in different ways. Think of solids as being like a steak and veneers as something like prosciutto - same stuff, just cut much thinner. Veneers are sliced off of a log using an enormous knife. We use them for 3 reasons: 1) The most spectacular trees get cut into veneers, so if we want the coolest wood we have to use them; 2) You can get a lot of veneer off of a single tree, so when we want to cover a large area in a consistent way, veneers are the way to go; and 3) large veneered panels are much more stable than large solid panels, which are prone to warp and crack.
Engineered panels: Wood has some inconvenient properties, particularly its tendency to change dimension when the weather changes and its variable structure. (Each tree's grain responds to its local environment, so there are wide variations in appearance and strength in any pile of lumber. Not to mention knots.) Engineered panels have been developed to help wood do a better job in certain situations. We use two types: 1) Plywood, which consists of panels made from interlocking layers of veneers, and 2) MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) which is made from leftover parts of the tree. Plywood is good for structural elements, particularly in the table base, and MDF is an excellent substrate for veneers. Our table tops are made with a layer of veneered MDF on top of a plywood structural base, which receives the hardware that holds the table together.
We apply a solid wood edge to all of our table tops, to keep the veneers from being damaged. Table bases are made from either a combination of solids and veneers, or, for lower cost, entirely of plywood and MDF.
I want a solid table. Can you make one?
Yes, we can. Most of our dining room furniture is made entirely from solids. However, solid panels larger than 4' x 8' are prone to warping and cracking, because the wood moves in response to weather changes. We strongly recommend that tables larger than 4' x 8' be made of veneered panels with a solid edge - we have learned the hard way that anything bigger is asking for trouble. And the last thing we want is trouble. We are happy to discuss the particulars of your situation to see whether solids or veneers are best. All we want is for the table to be as well built and durable as it can be. Most of the time that means veneers. But if solids is best, we're happy to use them.
Aren't veneers for lower quality furniture?
Veneered furniture has been around a long time (there were veneered pieces in King Tut's tomb, which have survived 3500 years) and many of the most expensive and spectacular pieces of furniture in history were made using veneers. Nowadays veneered furniture occupies both ends of the economic spectrum - industrial methods have made it possible to make cheap veneered panels, and techniques have been developed to build this into very cheap furniture. This is why veneer has a bad reputation. A lot more people have had a poor experience with lousy veneered furniture than have enjoyed owning very high quality work. We aren't interested in making cheap furniture, so our veneered work is done with the techniques that stand the test of time. Think of veneer as you would beef: your dinner may be delicious or disgusting, but you don't blame the cow. It's up to the chef to use the ingredients properly. Same with veneers. Built properly, veneer furniture is as durable as solid.
What kind of finish do you use?
Wood finishing is an extraordinarily complex subject. We can choose from a multitude of types and processes. Our standard finish is a catalyzed polyurethane, as this gives the highest level of protection for commercial use. It's been my experience that people want three things in a finish: 1) smooth; 2) waterproof; 3) highlights the wood grain. Our urethanes do all of those. We are happy to discuss finish options if you have questions. Call us to describe your situation and we'll help you figure out what will work best.
How long does it take to make a table?
We try to ship orders within 6 weeks of receiving them, and we can often ship within 4 weeks, and sometimes faster than that. We will discuss your schedule requirements when you place your order, and do our best to meet your needs. We take your schedule requests seriously - when we commit to a delivery date, we will be ready on that date. Please do your best to keep us informed of schedule changes.
Can the table go up stairs or in elevators?
Yes, it can. Our tables are made in pieces, designed to be easy to move and assemble. Even the largest tables can be moved into any space. We have also developed an integrated hardware system which makes our tables easy to assemble.
How do you ship the table?
There are lots of ways to ship, each offering different levels of service, transit times, and cost. We usually do one of these three options:
Blanket wrapped delivery: If you are located in the Northeast, we can use a delivery service (or our own trucks) and ship the tables blanket wrapped. This service includes inside delivery, assembly, and installation. Cost will be 7-10% of the order, depending upon the particulars.
Palletized delivery: Our tables are made in pieces. We put them in boxes and then ship them on a pallet via common carrier. The pallet is usually heavy and bulky, but the boxes can be easily moved by two people. There are two shipping methods for palletized loads:
With inside delivery: If you are located in or near a town or city, we can ship to a local furniture installer, who will then bring the table to you and install it. Cost for this varies with the size of the order and the prevailing local labor rates, but 10% of the order is a reasonable estimate.
You assemble: If you are out in the boondocks, or you have the ability to receive a pallet and move the pieces into your space, then we can ship directly to you. This is less expensive, as you only have to pay the freight charges. If you choose this option, we will send instructions on table assembly with the table. (It's easy to do). Cost for this varies, but use 7% as an estimate.
Can you make furniture to match my table?
Yes. We've been making all kinds of furniture for years, and we can make credenzas, serving tables, equipment cabinets, coffee and end tables, and anything else you need - except conference chairs. Modern conference chairs have a lot of metal and plastic, and we couldn't make a good one at a competitive price.
We will be adding a section devoted to credenzas to our site in the future. Until then, you will receive more information in the proposal we submit to you.
How do I place an order?
Please see our Ordering Guidelines.
Can I visit your workshops?
Absolutely, we love visitors. And I'll boldly state that we have the nicest shop on the East Coast. But please call to make an appointment. We prefer to see clients during the weekdays, but we can sometimes meet on weekends and evenings. The tour usually takes about an hour, longer if you wish to discuss a particular project. We are located near Philadelphia. We'll send you directions when you make an appointment.
How do you take your photos?
We rarely have access to our tables after delivery, so most of our pictures are taken in the shop. Large tables are difficult to photograph in the best of circumstances, and our shop lighting makes it more difficult. Please excuse the photos you see here, and be assured that the tables look a lot better in real life.