Construction Features

SELECTED hardwoods are used for all interior structural parts. (back excepted).

1. Top Under Frame 2. Drawers have special Gibbard lock joint construction 3. Sycamore drawer sides - Full Length Drawers - 3/16 plywood drawer bottoms not illustrated - Centre drawer guides - Solid hardwood pin tray 4. Dust proof divisions between drawers 5. Gables, stretchers, case rails and posts are mortised and tenoned to assure a square, ridged, sway free case - Extensive use of interior corner blocks for additional strength and support 6. Mitred corners on drawer front mouldings (also door frames) - Inset plywood case backs 7. Shirt divisions in lower drawer

Standard Construction Features

SOLID MAHOGANY AND SOLID CHERRY

KILN DRIED WOOD - All wood is carefully kiln dried in our own kilns to between 5% and 7% moisture content to remove moisture and to stabilize internal stress

TENON AND MORTISE CONSTRUCTION - Gables, case rails, stretchers and posts are tenoned and mortised to assure a square, rigid, sway free case.

INSET PLYWOOD CASE BACKS - Additional strength and rigidity.

FLOATING PANELS - In all doors that allow for shrinkage or expansion without splitting the panel. Space balls keep panel in place and prevents rattling.

MITRED CORNERS - On all the door frames, drawer mouldings and bases where applicable.

DOOR FRAMES - Are feathered and doweled for extra strength.

DUST PROOF DIVISIONS - Between each drawer.

TILT AND ADJUSTABLE MIRROR FIXTURES

LEVELLERS ON THE FRONT OF WALL UNITS AND BOOKCASES

CORNER BLOCKS - Extensive use of corner blocks and glue blocks inside each piece

DRAWERS - Gibbard "lock joint" construction with sycamore drawer sides - 3/16" plywood bottoms with hardwood centre guides. Drawers are hand fitted and are full length to provide extra storage. Jewellery or pin tray in top drawer of chest or door chest. 15 to 17 glue blocks on under side and back for added strength.

FINISH - A high solid nitro cellulose lacquer with up to 23 different steps including hand glazing. rubbing and waxing to achieve a satin smooth finish.

CARE OF FINISH - The finish should be cleaned annually with a mild detergent and a minimum of water. Take a clean soft cloth and lightly rub the surface with the grain of the wood until dry. Then use a quality cream furniture polish again using a clean soft cloth rub the surface in the direction of the wood grain.

DO NOT place plastic or rubber objects on a wood finish - their ingredients react with those of the finish, use pads, cloth, or felt to protect the surface from plastics, rubber, hot dishes, beverages, bookends, vases, lamps etc.

Wood

"NATURE creates but never duplicates." - ANONYMOUS

"WOOD is a substance with a soul." - WILLIAM PENN

THE pore structure, grain patterns and colour vary from tree to tree. These subtle and sometimes dramatic variations are caused by the location of the tree, soil conditions and weather conditions. Not until the sawyer lays the log open are the inner secrets of its quality and beauty revealed. Therefore, some variation in colour and grain patterns are to be expected not only from board to board but from one piece of furniture to another. This is particularly true of solid woods.

The Purchasing of Lumber

GIBBARD FURNITURE is against any kind of illegal logging and the felling of timber on indigenous reserves. Gibbard Furniture is not involved in logging but buys its lumber from individual sawmills or their brokers. We do not buy any lumber unless it is accompanied by the necessary legal documentation from the exporting country and from "cities", (The convention on international trade in endangered species).

Finish

AT Gibbard we try to emphasize the natural character markings that highlight the delicate grain patterns of the wood itself. Over 20 different steps, including hand rubbing and waxing are required to achieve a satin smooth finish.