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can you guys identify what kind of wood this busted up coffee table is made out of?

2.3K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  johnstoneb  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
i know the main board is different from everywhere else. but what about the legs? is there veneer?
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#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Top edging is a type of mahogany/luane - solid or plywood I can't tell from your pics. Top center panel will not be necessarily the same-skinned plywood. If the legs are heavy - usually a soft maple. If the legs are lighter - usually pine. With factory sprayed-on stain and lacquer. Typical 50's (domestic) - 90's (imported) generic "furniture set" coffee table offering.

And welcome to Lumberjocks!
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
When I was in the furniture business for a few years, for both Ashley and Catnapper, that is what we called "rubberwood", a sort of Asian knockoff mahogany that was very resilient for the price, and took one coat lacquer/stain mix sprayed on very easily.

Its major usage seems to be in smaller tables, legs for upholstered furniture, certain chair parts like arm rests, legs, stretchers, etc. Rarely do you see it used in a big plank, like a whole table top. That was generally believed because it is very fast growing, and they harvested it quickly to meet the needs of the cheap Asian furniture market with something that looked expensive. Your piece fits this wood well.

It finishes a lot like mahogany, save that when sanded you might find that it is a little harder to get a stain to penetrate to reach a color you want.

We called it rubberwood because it had a tendency to dent and take abuse before it would crack or break - like your deep table scratches show.
I agree that the legs are probably some sort of soft maple, or even poplar.