All About the Reclaimed Farm Table Construction Process

Dining room and kitchen tables come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and styles. You can find a table to suit any kind of room and any number of people. One of the most popular types of tables for the home is a farm table. Farm tables are distinctive, sturdy tables that have an attractive and recognizable shape – a farm table can seat the whole family and is both robust enough for children’s play and attractive enough for guests. The tables are often made from reclaimed wood and finished to a customer's exact specifications.

Farm tables made from reclaimed wood begin with the wood itself. The reclaimed wood is normally taken from historic buildings that are about to be demolished. The building may be a commercial or a residential space, and the wood could be any type, depending on the preferences of the manufacturing company. The company making the table looks for wood of the right quality, shape, and size. The wood must be of a good quality – as it is being salvaged, it must still have plenty of years of use left in it. The wood must be able to be constructed into the farm table and still look attractive. If you are buying a farm table, look for one that is made with old-growth wood that has been salvaged from historic buildings so you can get a sense of history as well as a place to sit and eat.

Once the wood has been selected, it is sent to a warehouse and then to the construction plant where the tables are made. Any nails in the wood are removed and then reused in other furniture projects. (Antique nails are highly sought-after as they provide the authentic finishing touch for many items of furniture.) The wood is cut roughly to size and then dried in a kiln to get rid of any moisture that could result in the wood warping. Once the wood is dry, it is cut more finely, and the edges are straightened to make the table as even as possible. Glue is used to finish the joints and make sure that the table remains in one piece. A special machine then planes the top of the table to get an even finish.

Once the tabletop is constructed, the designers turn their attention to the table legs and the table skirt. Often, the skirt and the legs are made from the same reclaimed wood to create the genuine authentic article – for example, the professionals at OGTStore.com make farm tables for sale with authentic wood legs. Sometimes the legs are made from metal. There are a variety of ways in which the table can be finished, including with wood stain and varnish. The manufacturer will typically ask the customer what they want in terms of the finish, including any specific color or type of varnish, and any different type of decoration on the legs and skirt.

Louise Carr is a British freelance writer based in Argentina. She writes for websites and blogs on homes and gardens, shopping, and decor, including how the experts at OGTStore.com make farm tables for sale.

Louise Carr writes for home and garden blogs and websites, including articles about services like http://bbsplumbandheat.com. She is a freelance writer based in Buenos Aires.