Did you know that Amish-made furniture is considered superior? The reason why might be due to the fact that all Amish furniture is 100% handmade. It might be due to the fact that their furniture is known for lasting decades, sometimes even for 100 years or more. The truth is that there are a few reasons why Amish-made wooden goods are sought after.
What Makes Furniture Made By Amish Techniques Special?
Amish building techniques are in alignment with Amish values. That means that Amish communities live their lives without modern conveniences, such as electricity. Their furniture and buildings are created without modern techniques as well. The result is a sturdy piece of workmanship that can last a long time.
How Are Amish Storage Barns Built?
Traditionally, a barn built in the Amish community is built in one day. The process is referred to as “barn raising,” and the whole community takes part. Amish storage barns are built entirely with hand tools and physical exertion. This is why it is necessary to have many hands helping.
It can be difficult for other people outside of the Amish community to build Amish storage barns. The average adult is not familiar with building methods, and if they are, they likely learned how to build structures using power tools. Hand-operated tools take more time, and most require more physical effort.
Secondly, the community aspect of barn raising is vital. The Amish don’t allow for cranes or other motorized vehicles in their building methods. Therefore. raising a barn requires a big party to have it be done right. This feature of the process may make it difficult to recreate outside of an Amish community.
Why Are Amish Building Methods Preferable to Modern Methods?
It doesn’t matter if it is Amish barns, an Amish chicken coop, or Amish furniture, the method for building remains the same. They use hand tools such as saws, hand planes, hammers, and chisels. While the tools have an effect on the finished structure, it is the method used to join separate pieces that makes these pieces last.
In furniture construction, some methods are better than others. High-quality furniture pieces will have one of the following joint techniques: mortise and tenon; tongue-in-groove; or dovetailed. Amish construction methods rely on these techniques because all methods join two pieces of wood without the addition of nails, screws, or glue.
What Woods Do the Amish Use In Their Construction Projects?
Amish communities generally use hardwoods for their construction projects. Hardwoods are considered an excellent choice for fine furniture, as it is less susceptible to dents, dings, and scratches. hardwoods are also impermeable, which is why wine barrels are made using hardwood. The furniture piece not only lasts, but it looks great throughout the years as a result of its source material.
Some types of hardwood that are commonly used in Amish woodworking include oak, maple, cherry, walnut, hickory, and elm. Choosing a wood for a piece of furniture is not simply a matter of hardwood or softwood. Amish woodworkers choose each piece of wood depending on the beauty of the grain, the strength of the wood, and the quality of the lumber.
Part of the appeal of Amish-made creations is the care devoted to each piece. When something is made by hand, it becomes a special item. Because a piece of woodworking by an Amish community is carefully made from quality wood using superior methods, it will last a long time. These methods are difficult to truly replicate outside of the community, which makes each piece a treasure.
