jeebeeg wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 7:36 am

Following all of this with interest, I would like to ask you if you can specify the location of the wood furniture factory on the ringroad, and of the shop on the highway to Nong Khai.
Thanks.
Jeebeeg

The wood furniture factory on the Ring Road is directly across from the New 9D Sports Hotel, about 300 meters or so north of the traffic light at Phon Phisa Road.

Standby for bearings to the shop on the Nong Kai highway.

fdimike wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 7:10 pm

I think you should be careful with this furniture because the wood may not have been dried properly despite what you may have been told by the salesperson. Placing it in an air con environment may lead to warping/splitting especially at the joints. This is especially true for solid hardwood furniture. I believe there's only 1 lumber yard in this area which has an oven to dry wood and it's located on the highway to Nong Bua Lamphu approximately 20kms from Udon.

Thanks for the advice; it pays to be careful. The teak shelving I'm getting from the furniture factory is not going into an air-con environment. Years ago, I saw splitting on expensive new teak chairs that were still on an air-conditioned showroom floor!

Personally, I've had no issues with my teak furniture that went into air con because I dealt with high-end furniture makers up in Tha Bo who came highly recommended and deliver a quality product. There was a long wait for delivery, and it was due to the time needed to dry out the wood since I was having stuff custom-made.

So yes, for sure, the wood needs to be dried first. For inexpensive, already finished items, I'm more willing to take a chance.

sometimewoodworker wrote: ↑

July 15, 2018, 9:17 pm

runrunshaw wrote: ↑

July 15, 2018, 2:15 pm

Thanks for the clarification. I was surprised to learn that some hardwoods are actually "softer" than certain softwoods. It's a fascinating field, and tropical woods are extremely interesting.

Seven or eight years ago I bought a cheap varnished wood dining set and I have to admit it has help up very well. As my children get older and less destructive, I've been upgrading our furniture. Certain hardwoods are simply beautiful, when finished.

How well the future holds up is primary related to the quality of the joints. Before you buy do make sure that it is comfortable to sit on. The standard cheap straight back and flat seat is incredibly uncomfortable
Something like this, shaped seat, curved and slanted back, is vastly better
IMG_1903-3.jpeg

Cushions can help but can't defeat geometry.

Again FWIW the chairs with finish will change like this.
IMG_3632.JPG




FWIF the softest wood Balsa which has a Janka rating of 70 lbf (310 N) is a hardwood,
Yew has a rating of 1,520 lbf (6,760 N) and is a softwood
Bamboo which isn't a wood but a grass is 1,410 lbf (6,270 N).
The hardest wood is the Australian Buloke which has a Janka rating of 5,060 lbf (22,500 N)

sometimewoodworker,

Just curious, did you build the chairs in the photos you posted?

fdimike wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 7:10 pm

I think you should be careful with this furniture because the wood may not have been dried properly despite what you may have been told by the salesperson. Placing it in an air con environment may lead to warping/splitting especially at the joints. This is especially true for solid hardwood furniture. I believe there's only 1 lumber yard in this area which has an oven to dry wood and it's located on the highway to Nong Bua Lamphu approximately 20kms from Udon.

Kiln drying wood is not a way to avoid splitting of joints. Air dried wood is perfectly able to be made into furniture that does not breakdown,split or warp, it's been done for hundreds of years, I happen to have an item built around 1830 it has shown no sign of problems in my AC room

The way to avoid problems with furniture is to build it correctly, to allow for seasonal changes.

Air dried wood has different colours in some species and is better for bent construction.

After the species the thing that will affect wood movement most is if It has been flatsawn or quartersawn, and FWIW teak is very stable

runrunshaw wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 9:33 pm

sometimewoodworker,

Just curious, did you build the chairs in the photos you posted?

No, I don't do chairs they are too repetitive for me.

runrunshaw wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 9:19 pm

Personally, I've had no issues with my teak furniture that went into air con because I dealt with high-end furniture makers up in Tha Bo who came highly recommended and deliver a quality product. There was a long wait for delivery, and it was due to the time needed to dry out the wood since I was having stuff custom-made.

I rather doubt that drying the wood was the reason as, unless it's being kiln dried, it takes about 1 year for each 25mm of thickness to season wood in a temperate climate so here with the higher humidity it could easily be longer.

sometimewoodworker wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 11:02 pm

runrunshaw wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 9:19 pm

Personally, I've had no issues with my teak furniture that went into air con because I dealt with high-end furniture makers up in Tha Bo who came highly recommended and deliver a quality product. There was a long wait for delivery, and it was due to the time needed to dry out the wood since I was having stuff custom-made.

I rather doubt that drying the wood was the reason as, unless it's being kiln dried, it takes about 1 year for each 25mm of thickness to season wood in a temperate climate so here with the higher humidity it could easily be longer.

Well, that was the reason the shop gave to me. They sourced the wood from Laos and told me it had to be dried. And yes, they have a kiln. It's a large shop that ships internationally. Friends here in Udon bought custom-made items from this shop over fifteen years ago and the furniture is still in terrific condition, which is why I sought out the shop. Expensive, but great workmanship.

As with most things, you get what you pay for. As for furniture, it's doubtful that you will know for sure what kind of wood it is made from regardless of what the salesman tells you. You must carefully look at the design and if there is fine high quality workmanship, you can bet that the craftsman who built the piece would never use inferior wood. The labor for fine quality fit and finish is far more costly than the price of the wood. As previously mentioned, the furniture must first of all be comfortable.

Approximately 15 years ago my wife bought a second hand dining room table and chairs. While the workmanship is very good, the straight backed chairs are quite uncomfortable and the table design leaves a lot to be desired. The wood has held up well with no warping or cracks. Good wood but poor design.

jeebeeg wrote: ↑

July 22, 2018, 7:36 am

Following all of this with interest, I would like to ask you if you can specify the location of the wood furniture factory on the ringroad, and of the shop on the highway to Nong Khai.
Thanks.
Jeebeeg

Jeebeeg

These shops that sell used merchandise from Japan are all over town now--at least five, I think. I've seen some good furniture in them, but you have to find the diamond in the rough.

I just bought a couple of nice pieces from this shop on the highway to Nong Kai. It's across the highway from the gas station with the leaf logo and has a Mini Big C.

The first photo is facing southbound toward Udon. The shop is about 100 meters north of here, where the connecting road goes to Ban Srang Paen. I don't think it's more than a 7 or 8 minute drive from the Ring Road to this shop, depending on traffic.

FrazeeDK wrote: ↑

July 17, 2018, 7:28 pm

We lived in Vientiane for 5 years.. Our landlord also owned and ran K+B Furniture.. Started small back in the late 90's and now is quite big.. Teakwood, Rosewood, custom hardwood furniture of all types. Big showroom at his factory on the east side of town.. Mr. Kongmala and his wife Bic (K+B).. His children all graduated from Canadian colleges and speak good English.. Prices naturally are much higher than they were when I first saw the factory back in 2002... Pretty sure they could arrange shipment of the furniture from Vientiane to Udon. https://www.facebook.com/KB-Furniture-L ... 788382882/

located here: https://www.google.co.th/maps/place/Ele ... 02.6275423

I contacted KB through their FB page, but they never responded. Have heard elsewhere that they are now busy with large international orders and can't be bothered with doing custom work for individuals.

I did, however get a nice response and a good price quoted from this shop In Vientiane: Paphao Furniture http://www.paphaofurniture.com/

Also, I've used a photo from KB's showroom floor as the model for a coffee table I've commissioned to be custom-made in Tha Bo. So i guess KB helped me after all...

Had a nice visit to Tha Bo today, up on the Mekong River. Visited three furniture showroom/factories, all on the same soi, no more than 200 meters apart. I commissioned a coffee table to be made at this shop, which I have used before, to great satisfaction. Delivery to my house in Udon included in the price. No English spoken here, but they are total pros and do great work. On site kiln. Doesn't look like much from the street, but if you get the nickel tour, it's a huge facility. The main showroom is buttoned-up, but ask them to show you.

Further along the soi are two more shops with exquisite furniture, artfully designed and made on-site. Top top quality. Veeraya is a stylish Thai lady who speaks perfect English--beautiful, high-end furniture made from rosewood, teak, or the wood of your choice.