When shopping for a quality wood dining table, whether new or antique, there are certain characteristics that define high quality.
Here are a few things to look for when shopping for a dining table in order to get the highest quality.
photo courtesy of Brown Guacamole flickr.com/photos/dongkwan/8523946848/Quality Wood
When selecting a wood dining table, make sure the wood is kiln dried.
This means that all of the moisture has been removed from the wood in order to make it as strong as possible.
Make sure the wood grain matches on similar pieces of the dining table.
The wood stain should not have any drips or inconsistencies revealing lesser quality.
There should not be any MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) used anywhere.
Good Joints
The construction of the dining table should use dovetails, dowels, glue & screws, or other quality construction techniques.
There should not be any butt joints or staples used.
Stable Construction
Try pushing and tugging on the dining table.
It should not give easily, wobble, twist, or squeak at all revealing lesser quality.
Older pieces of furniture may be able to be adjusted slightly if they wobble.
Nicely Finished on All Sides
The underside of the dining table should be sanded smooth and should not be rough to the touch.
Suits Your Lifestyle
Make sure the dining table is suitable for your lifestyle.
If you entertain adults only, they a more "precious" piece of furniture would work.
If you have many kids at your home often, then something more durable would be better.
Consider whether the wood top require drink coasters, whether the top have a lot of grooves where food will get stuck, and if the table extends to accommodate many guests?
Fits Chairs
Make sure the chairs you select will fit under the table.
New chairs often have arms that are too tall to fit under antique tables.
