Questions To Ask When Commissioning A Custom Woodworking Project

27 October 2022 by Marvin Carroll

Working with a custom woodworker can be so rewarding. You get to have a piece or multiple pieces made to perfectly suit your home and taste. As you begin working with a woodworker, they'll ask you a lot of questions about what you like and what you want out of the piece. The answers you give can strongly influence how the final product turns out. Throughout this process, however, there are also some questions that you'll want to ask the woodworker.

What finish will you be using, and how is it cleaned?

When selecting a finish for your piece, you and your woodworker will generally focus on the color and tone of that finish. This is obviously important. However, you don't want to be so focused on the color that you forget about other important aspects of choosing a finish. Specifically, you want to make sure the cleanability of the finish works for the item you're having made. A finish that has to be cleaned without water, for instance, may work perfectly well on a dresser. That same finish is probably not best for a kitchen table. If you're not comfortable with the cleaning process your woodworker recommends for a certain finish, ask them about finishes that might better suit your needs.

Will the wood change its appearance as it ages?

The woodworker will probably show you a sample of the wood so you can see what it looks like. Some types of wood, like maple, stay the same virtually forever. Other types of wood, however, may darken or lighten as they age and are exposed to UV light. Tigerwood, for example, tends to darken as it is exposed to sunlight over the years. Make sure you're happy with the way your wood may change and don't hesitate to ask for another type of wood if you're not happy with the change.

What kinds of glue or attachments will be used?

Some woodworking projects are made with just screws. Others may be made with mostly glue. Ask how the woodworker will connect the pieces of wood used in your project. This way, you will be more aware of any problems you may experience years down the road. For instance, if you have a piece that is glued together, you may expect it to weaken and separate after a decade or two in a moist environment such as a bathroom.

Ask the questions above when commissioning a woodworking project, and you'll be even happier with the result! For more information on custom woodworking, contact a professional near you.

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