Twig and log furniture, as you know, can be very expensive.  For your sake, before you go through the checkout with the "deal of the century," do your home work.

If you're buying log furniture that is constructed with mortise and tenon joinery, make absolutely certain it is kiln dried. If it isn't, there is still moisture in the wood ... and with time, the moisture will evaporate and the wood will shrink.  Then, to your surprise, your $500.00 chair will become loose and basically fall apart. (Cedar is an exception to this as it has less moisture and air dries quickly).

It takes one year for every inch of thickness in softwoods like pine, to air dry, and two years for every inch of thickness for hardwood to air dry. And that is under perfect conditions.

Do the math! Do you think these large companies selling massive quantities of furniture have the inventory, let alone the time to "air dry" their logs for that amount of time and still be able to make and sell that amount of furniture? I don't think so!

With Twig furniture you need to inform yourself of these things:

Following this advice could save you a lot of money, frustration and time replacing the shabby furniture you purchased!

Written by master furniture maker: Rene Guay