Characteristics of Solid Wood Cabinets
Birch, oak and other hardwoods are products of nature. How lumber from a specific species and tree will look and feel is affected by climate, soil nutrients, growing season, season of harvest and age at harvest. Every piece of wood – even from the same tree – will carry a slightly different color, texture and grain. The natural variations and imperfections add to the wood’s appeal and character.
Constructing Wood Cabinets
CliqStudios cabinetry is constructed from solid hardwood components using construction methods that ensure long life and minimal shrinking and cracking.
Heartwood and Sapwood
Trees contain two types of wood: heartwood and sapwood. Heartwood is the older growth found at the core of the tree, and sapwood is newer growth found in the outer perimeter. Heartwood tends to be darker and transitions to a lighter color as it moves toward the outer sapwood. When building cabinets, we use a blend of heartwood and sapwood to showcase the unique beauty of the species and prevent the finished cabinetry from looking artificial or monochromatic.
Wood Finished Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts
Cabinet door frames and inset-panel drawer front frames consist of solid wood stiles and rails. Wood finished raised-panel door and drawer center panels are made of several individual solid hardwood pieces known as staves, which vary in width. Staves are glued and planked together to create a panel that is 3/4″ thick. This panel is then machined and profiled into the door style of your choice. Wood finished flat door and drawer front inserts are hardwood veneer on medium-density fiberboard (MDF), a material that resists splitting and shrinkage.
Planking
Planking is used when large pieces of solid wood, called staves, are required in the construction of door center panels and some specialty cabinets.
Joints
Joints refer to the areas of cabinetry where vertical and horizontal solid hardwood pieces (rails and stiles) come together to form corners. CliqStudios utilizes two sturdy joints to secure cabinet door frames. Dowel joints use two small, round wooden dowels and glue. Pocket-hole joints involve drilling a hole at an angle through one frame piece and guiding a screw through the hole to secure the two pieces together. We use two additional joints in the construction of cabinet doors. These joints are described below.
Mortise and Tenon Joint
In its most basic form, this joint is comprised of a tenon formed on the end of the rail that is inserted into the mortise hole on the stile. The seam of this joint runs vertically between the two pieces of wood.
Miter Joint
A miter joint is made by cutting two pieces of wood at a 45° angle and securing them together to form a 90° angle. The seam of a miter joint runs diagonally through the door frame, which is ideal for door styles with detail.
Joint Lines
Wood is in a constant state of expansion and contraction. This normal movement will cause hairline cracks in the finish surface to form at the joints on cabinet doors and face frames. Joint lines are more visible in painted finishes.
End Grain
End grain is exposed when wood is cut perpendicular to the direction of the grain. It is softer in composition than other areas of the wood and often appears darker because it absorbs more stain. This color variation is natural and cannot be prevented. End grain is present on mortise and tenon joints and is hidden on miter joints.
Mineral Streaks
Mineral deposits form in many wood types as the trees extract nutrients from the soil. Mineral deposits appear as brown or blackish-blue streaks in the grain. Depending on the applied finish, mineral streaks may appear lighter or darker than other areas of the wood.
Mineral streaks are a natural part of the hardwood used in CliqStudios cabinets. They may appear on the front of your cabinet doors, as well as the back where their size may be more prominent. Hardwood is a valuable resource, and we do our best to maximize our use of it, including the parts with mineral streaks, in order to minimize waste.
Pin Knots and Sap Pockets
Pin knots and sap pockets are a natural part of hardwood. They are created when small branches die or are broken off, leaving behind a small area that is filled by the decaying branch, which becomes darker than the sapwood that surrounds it. These marks do not compromise the quality of the wood.
Insect Marks
As trees grow in nature, they are subject to the effects of creatures that call the forest home. Insects can bore into the tree and leave small marks and tracks in the wood. These markings may appear similar to mineral streaks but are generally smaller and much lighter in color.
Aging
All wood types will mellow, darken or change color as they age. Even with our multi-step finish process, which uses a heat-cured, catalyzed topcoat varnish with UV inhibitors, the colors will be affected by the environment. Paint finishes also change over time, especially their sheen. Smoke, moisture and heavy use of cooking oils with a lack of ventilation will rapidly affect all types of finish.
