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General Guidelines to Wood Finish Care
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Whether you use Briwax or another quality wood care product, here are some important points to remember:
• Before using any cleaning product on your furniture, test a small, inconspicuous area.
• Always wipe polish or cleaners in the direction of the grain.
• Avoid excessive rubbing, as it can cause uneven shine.
• Avoid over-polishing. We recommend no more than four times a year.
• Avoid any products that contain silicone. Spray polishes should be avoided.
Note: These are suggested methods. Individual results may vary.
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Take Simple Precautions
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• Don’t lean back in chairs. Avoid using chair stretchers or table pedestals as footrests.
• Don’t stand on rush or woven seats.
• Don’t put anything hot directly on furniture. Use coasters under hot and cold beverages.
• Avoid placing furniture near heat outlets, windows or in direct sunlight.
• Protect dining tabletops with non-synthetic or felt pads under lamps and accessories.
• Use a protective pad when writing with a ballpoint pen.
• Remove spills and smudges immediately.
• Protect the surface when working with items (such as markers and glue) that could stain or damage the wood.
• Avoid scratching by lifting objects instead of dragging them across wood surfaces.
GLOSSARY
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WOOD TYPE
Ash - A hard, durable, lightweight wood with light to medium natural color and an active, interesting grain pattern.
Beech - A durable, medium hardwood with light, nondescript grain patterns; ideal for stained and painted finishes.
Cabriole Leg - A bowed leg that curves into a tapered foot.
Cherry - A durable hardwood with a characteristic warm, rich reddish color assumed with time and exposure to light.
Grain - The direction or pattern of the fibrous tissue in wood.
Hardwoods - Wood derived from deciduous trees; includes oak, maple, ash, walnut, rosewood, birch and teak.
Knot - The point at which a stem or branch grows from a tree that results in a round, often darker feature in the grain of the wood.
Mahogany - A tropical wood that rarely warps and is reddish in color, with a handsome grain.
Mango wood - Derived from the mango tree and grown in fruit orchards in many parts of Asia
Pine - A soft, durable wood that is light in color with a straight, medium coarse grain; ideal for distressed and rustic, decorative finishes.
Plantation grown - Woods that are ecologically grown with the specific intent of being milled.
Plywood - A structural material made of layers of wood glued together, usually with the grains of adjoining layers at right angles to each other.
Poplar wood - A hardwood also known as "tulip wood"; Its light color and inconspicuous grain make it ideal for painted furniture.
Recycled/Reclaimed - Wood that is reused from old buildings; features natural distressing and a time-worn patina.
Rubber wood - A dense, durable tropical hardwood also known as "parawood"; typically grown in Malaysia.
Softwoods - Wood derived from coniferous trees; softer in density than hardwoods.
Tapered Leg - A straight leg that narrows gradually towards one end.
Teak - An extremely dense, durable tropical hardwood, ideal for outdoor applications; if left unfinished, will weather to a dull gray.
Turned Leg -
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WOOD CONSTRUCTION
Breadboard Ends - A board placed at the end of the lengthwise boards with the grain and orientation at a right angle to cover the end grain and pegged on to control wood movement.
Butt - A basic joint formed by butting one piece of wood up to another, which is typically reinforced with dowels or cornerblocks.
Classic Chinese Joinery - Traditional, solid wood furniture construction methods that do not involve the use of nails or screws. These centuries-old techniques include tongue and groove joints as well as mortise and tenon.
Dado - A joint formed by inserting the end of one board into the cut side of another; typically used for shelves and cabinet dividers.
Dovetail - A decorative, durable joint formed by interlocking wedges; typically used on drawer fronts.
Engineered Wood Construction - Any non solid wood product, such as MDF, plywood or particle board.
Finger - A joint formed by cutting small fingers into corresponding pieces of wood and interlocking them; often used as a decorative or durable drawer joint.
Lap - A joint formed by cutting the end of one board to lay flush on the lap of another cut piece; commonly used in frame construction.
Miter - A 45 degree angle joint used to conceal end grain; most often used in frames and tabletops.
Mortise and Tenon - A strong joint formed between one protrusion and one routed cavity; typically used with table legs or chairs.
Peg Detailing - Traditional wood working method of joining two pieces of wood together with a square peg hammered into a round hole.
Solid Wood Construction - Product made of wood hewn directly from cut or recycled trees.
