Furniture Care |
Every piece of wood is unique. The beauty of handcrafted furniture is it's individuality. Use the links to the left for further information.
Sheesham Hardwood is a natural material which reacts to its environment. All the hardwoods used in our furniture are kiln dried to reduce the moisture content to match the average UK environment. This minimises the effects of changes in relative humidity which causes movement in the furniture (in some cases).
Please bear in mind, however, that it is impossible to prevent some slight movement in natural materials such as hardwood and fruitwood. This can be minimised by the application of beeswax polish (Briwax or similar) which should be periodically applied as per the manufacturers instruction. This will also help to prevent any incidence of drying and cracking. Any split or scratch marks which do occur can easily be rectified with an appropriately coloured wax, wood filler or touch up pen.
Please note that there will also, to some degree, be small amounts of wood filler applied to knots in the wood. Again, this is part of the manufacturing process and is considered to be part of the character of the furniture, serving to add individuality to each piece.
Although the manufacturing process allows for normal swelling of the drawers and doors, in extreme cases some household environments may cause more swelling than normal, particularly if placed near a heat source. This will generally settle, but on very rare occasions this movement may not settle and a small amount may need to be trimmed from the door or drawer - in this case it is best to trim from the bottom of the drawer. Application of an appropriately coloured wax will finish the adjustment. The most important care for your furniture is to avoid any unnecessary drying, which can lead to cracks or splits, follow these simple guidelines to ensure you treat your furniture with the care it needs.
* Treat with beeswax (available from any hardware store) as soon as you receive your furniture We also recommend that you wipe up any spilt liquids immediately and avoid placing very hot objects directly onto the surface of your furniture.
Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) is one of the most useful timber sources of India. The heartwood is very hard and close grained with a specific gravity of 0.62-0.82. It seasons well and does not warp or split; it is extremely durable and is one of the timbers least susceptible to dry-wood termites in India. Wood offers resistance to sawing and cutting but is excellent for turnery, takes a good polish and finishes to a smooth surface. It is used for high quality furniture, cabinets, decorative veneer, marine and aircraft grade plywood, ornamental turnery, carving, engraving, tool handles and sporting goods. Its root wood is used for tobacco pipes. In village industry Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) is popular for doors and windows.
Tree management. A fast-growing species; growth rates of 3.7m in 1 year, 5m in 3 years, 11m in 5 years and 15m in 10 years have been recorded. Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) plantations are established in block or strip plantations at 1.8 x 1.8m to 4 x 4m. Closer spacing is used for straight timber of good quality. When the canopy closes, at about 6 years, 30-40% of the stems are thinned to selectively remove suppressed, diseased and badly formed trees. Thinning is recommended every 10 years where the rotation is 30-60 years. There is evidence that the stumps begin to lose vigour after 2 or 3 rotations when managed as a coppice crop. It coppices vigorously up to about 20 years of age. |
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