Caring for “The Wood Eternal”

Ask any furniture builder or woodworker: the wood of Louisiana’s Bald Cypress tree is special. Featuring a rare combination of durability, stability, strength, workability, and a natural resistance to moisture and pests, cypress is a sought-after material for construction and fine woodworking projects alike. Properly dried cypress resists warping, shrinking, or swelling, while naturally-occurring oils deliver legendary resistance against insects and termites, particularly in old-growth wood. Cypress is also beloved for its handsome grain pattern, with straight, fine lines and multiple knots that enhance the wood’s aesthetic appeal. It is eminently workable, enabling a skilled craftsperson to shape, cut, and join the wood to create durable, beautiful wooden furnishings capable of lasting for generations.

Few people know cypress wood better than David and Doug Duhon of All Wood Furniture. Each year at their workshop in tiny Carencro, Louisiana, the brothers and their team of experienced craftspeople use a couple of hundred thousand board feet of sustainably sourced cypress wood to build handsome, solid wood furniture that has kept their family-run company thriving for thirty years. Look closely at a piece of All Wood furniture and it’s plain to see how the company has endured. In dining tables, sideboards, and case goods, well-proportioned designs evoke the simple beauty of traditional American craftsmanship. Clean, uncluttered lines and solid joinery accentuate the unique qualities of the wood, allowing subtle grain variations, colorings, and saw marks to accentuate the character of each piece. Then there’s the finish—an All Wood hallmark—which is applied in multiple layers then painstakingly hand-sanded between each layer before a pre-catalyzed lacquer is applied. The result: a durable, luxurious finish that remains resistant to staining and water-intrusion while still allowing the complex character of the wood itself to shine through.

While the stability and durability of cypress imparts unusual longevity to the furniture made with it, any wood product will benefit from the right care. So as All Wood Furniture marks thirty years in the business, co-owner Doug Duhon offers the following tips for caring for high-quality, solid-wood furniture made with cypress, or indeed any other kind of wood.

Not too wet, not too dry. Solid wood is constantly moving, breathing, and is happiest when the humidity level is around 40%-50%. If wood gets too dry, cracks or checks can appear. Conversely, warping can occur if a piece of furniture gets wet, then is dried suddenly by heaters or sun. Central air-conditioning helps regulate high humidity in summer months, but in winter, heaters and fireplaces can pull too much moisture out of the air. Duhon recommends using a humidifier to maintain humidity in cold weather, and to avoid placing furniture too close to fireplaces, heaters or A/C vents.

A Place in the Sun. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will fade and dull the finish on a piece of furniture and dry the wood out. Avoiding leaving solid wood furniture in direct sunlight for long periods.

Keep it Clean. Dust furniture every few days to keep dirt from building up. Weekly cleaning should be done with a damp rag; microfiber gives great results. If your table has leaves or company boards, clean them at the same time as the table to keep all components looking the same. Avoid all-purpose cleaners as they can damage the finish. Mild dish detergent works just fine.

To Polish? Or Not? Most solid-wood furniture shouldn’t be polished more than a few times a year, since all polishes leave a buildup if applied too frequently. Common polishes like Pledge contain silicone, which accumulates over time and can break down the finish lacquer. This can also cause a reaction to the refinishing process if your furniture ever needs refinishing or light touch up. Duhon recommends using a silicone-free polish like OZ or Plush sparingly. Apply polish to a soft cloth and rub gently, following the grain of the wood.

Scratch That. Scratches happen! Duhon recommends treating them with a matching-colored wood crayon, or a table finish like Old English Scratch Cover, both of which can be found online. Choose a color close to that of your furniture. Rub gently into the scratch then wipe off the excess.

A Thump in the Night. Avoid dropping heavy or sharp objects on a solid wood piece of furniture. All wood is malleable and will dent or split if hit hard enough. Softwoods like cypress, pine, and cedar are more likely to dent than a hardwood like oak.

Avoid Direct Heat. Direct heat applied to solid wood tends to draw moisture to the surface between the wood and the finish, creating a white moisture ring or circle. Use a trivet or heat pad to keep direct heat from serving surfaces.

Ring of Fire. If a moisture ring does develop there are ways to remove it. But take care, since drying the wood quickly can permanently damage the finish. Spreading a towel over the affected area then briefly applying an iron set to the lowest heat setting can dissipate accumulated moisture. You can also use a hair dryer, but take your time and apply heat in small increments. Others recommend applying a small amount of mayonnaise to the affected area, letting it sit for awhile before wiping it off. Duhon explains that mayo’s thick texture binds it to the surface, allowing oil to seep in to help the wood “heal.”

More About Moisture. All Wood furniture pieces are finished with a pre-catalyzed lacquer, which produces an unusually durable finish that protects against the development of moisture rings. Duhon notes that All Wood has heard from customers whose furniture pieces survived the 2016 floods as a result. However, some wood finishes are more susceptible to developing moisture rings than others, so Duhon says that getting into the habit of using a coaster is never a bad idea.

With a little simple care, your solid wood furniture can and should last for many decades and even be passed along to future generations. This year, All Wood Furniture is marking its 30^th anniversary with a sale, offering 25%–60% off selected in-stock furniture. To learn more about the ways All Wood Furniture creates furnishings to last a lifetime, visit allwoodcompany.com.