Introduction To Your New Wooden Piece.

For a Continuous care of any wooden piece follow the guidance below:

As with any natural product, all woods can have a major colour variation from one piece of furniture to another. Unfinished raw oak furniture will naturally appear quite light with a slightly yellowed hue. The final colour can also depend on the customers preferred choice of wood finish. At AM Wood Craft we offer, stained, oiled and lacquered finish. Lacquered table can come in a matte,satin for gloss finish.


SUNLIGHT

Over time, sunlight will effect the look of the wood, causing it to darken and mellow throughout its life. Natural oils from the skin can also accelerate this process with any areas that are regularly touched, becoming a noticeably darker the rest of the furniture.
Exposure to sunlight could result in colour differences. Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight, If your piece of furniture is placed in direct sunlight, we recommend that you avoid leaving anything permanently on the surface for the first 10 weeks to give the wood chance to naturally mature.

HUMIDITY OR EXPOSURE TO WATER

Natural wood furniture may also be subject to change, with the rough grain becoming more prominient. This is usually caused in humid conditions or In the areas where spillage has occurred, the water may become absorbed into the wood causing the grain to swell. When exposed to an excessive amount of humidity likely in summer, the wood furniture can expand and begin to deteriorate on the other hand Too little humidity can cause the wood furniture to shrink and crack. Avoid drastic changes in humidity levels and temperature, and aim to keep your home temperature and humidity environment consistent by avoiding dry air by using a humidifier. Do not keep your wood furniture in a basement .

TEMPERATURE AND HEAT

Whilst we do our best to keep your furniture resistant to environmental factors, Heat could degrade the finish faster and could mark the surface, and depending on intensity may even burn the wood itself. We recommend you in protecting your furniture by using coasters and placemats.

Placing furniture near heat sources such as radiators or wood stoves can result in cracking or opening at the joints.
Radiators due to their ability to cause a drop in air humidity, can become damaging to wood and can cause uneven dry areas in the wood, resulting in cracking.
Hot, cold or moist items will react with the wood surface and create discoloured white rings or other marks.

CLEANING GUIDE

Choose the guidance for your type of furniture. If you are unsure about the type of finish that has been used on your furniture contact us.

LACQUERED OR STAINED WOOD SURFACES

Lacquered surfaces are easy to clean and they are highly resistant to dust and dirt. However they are also sensitive to humidity, moisture and alcohol. 
In terms of lacquered furniture, avoid leaving vases or similar items in the same place for longer periods of time, as this may result in stains and discolouration.
Please note that some cleaning detergents might affect the finish of your furniture. Always follow the label of cleaning product.

CLEANING

1. Use a dry soft cloth to dust it or
2. To clean, wipe with a damp cloth before wiping down with a dry cloth to remove moisture from the surface.Always wipe in the woods grains longitudinal direction.

In the event of more stubborn marks, a gentle detergent should be used on the cloth. Avoid using abrasive detergents or abrasive cloths. Avoid using Silicone based polishes as they will build up and leave a sticky residue on the surface.

MAINTENANCE

We normally use a Nitrocellulose Finish, this should keep your furniture protected. If needed you can reapply it. Follow the product guide for reapplication. We highly recommend you to contact us or other professionals if you are not sure on how to do it.

OILED WOOD CARE

Despite having already been pre-oiled, as best practice, we would also recommend that you oil the table surface on a six month to yearly basis depending on its usage. How regularly you re-apply oil will depend on the usage and humidity of the room. Always test the oil on a small unseen area before applying fully. Be cautious not to over oil the table.

CLEANING

 To clean the table, simply wipe down with a soft, barely damp cloth to remove any dust. In the case of stubborn marks, a solution of mild detergent such as washing up liquid should be used on the cloth.

Clean the wood regularly with a solution consisting of 1-cup boiled linseed oil, 1-cup turpentine and 1/3-cup white vinegar. The turpentine and vinegar cut through grime while the linseed oil revitalizes the oil finish.

Place the solution on the wood with a clean lint free cloth; don’t pour it on. Let the solution remain on the surface for several minutes; then wipe it off with another clean, lint-free cloth. Wipe along the grain of the wood. Avoid the use of abrasive cloths such as scourers. In the event of severe spillages and stains the surface can be re-sanded and re-oiled. However it is best to seek support and guidance from AM Wood Craft artisans or other professionals when needed.

STEEL CARE

All steel parts with a raw finish will need waxing every 10-12 months (depending on the humidity) to protect the steel from oxidation. Steel can be protected using Clear furniture Wax. To re-wax your steel simply wipe down the steel with a dry cloth to remove any dust or dirt. Then apply a thin, even layer of wax in one direcition. Leave for 30 minutes. Using a new clean cloth buff the entire surface.

For sprayed steel finishes please do not apply wax. These surfaces are already protected so will just need to be kept clean.

STEEL CLEANING

Use a dry soft lint free cloth to wipe away any dust or dirt away. Never use abrasive cloths such as scourers on the surface. Any moisture should be immediately dried off of the surface