FAQ
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Custom Furniture
What is custom furniture?
Custom furniture is built specifically for your home, style, and needs rather than being mass-produced. Every piece from Troon Woodshop is handcrafted, allowing you to choose the size, wood species, design details, and finish that best fit your space.
Why choose custom furniture instead of store-bought furniture?
Custom furniture offers advantages that factory-made pieces simply can’t match.
- Built to fit your space perfectly
- Crafted from premium hardwoods
- One-of-a-kind designs
- Superior craftsmanship
- Long-lasting durability
- Made to become a family heirloom
Every piece is designed with both beauty and function in mind.
Can I customize the size of a piece?
Absolutely. Nearly every design can be customized to fit your room. Whether you need a compact side table or a large dining table, dimensions can be tailored to your space.
Wood Selection
What types of wood do you use?
Troon Woodshop works with a variety of premium hardwoods, including Black Walnut, Spalted Maple, White Oak, Cherry, Ash, Hickory, and other carefully selected species.
Each wood has its own unique grain, color, and character.
What is live edge wood?
Live edge furniture preserves the natural edge of the tree rather than cutting it into a straight line. This highlights the organic beauty of the wood and ensures every piece is truly one of a kind.
Is every live edge table unique?
Yes. No two trees grow exactly alike, which means every live edge piece has its own grain pattern, shape, knots, and natural character.
Can I choose the wood for my project?
Yes. If multiple wood species are available, you’ll be able to discuss the options and choose the one that best suits your style and budget.
Craftsmanship
Are your pieces handmade?
Yes. Every project is handcrafted in the workshop using traditional woodworking techniques combined with modern tools to achieve precise, durable results.
Do you use reclaimed wood?
Many projects incorporate reclaimed or sustainably sourced hardwoods whenever appropriate, giving beautiful materials a second life while reducing waste.
What finish do you use?
Each project is finished with products selected for durability, protection, and the desired appearance. The best finish depends on how the piece will be used.
How long does a custom project take?
Build times vary depending on the project’s size, complexity, and current workload. Estimated timelines are discussed during the design process.
Furniture Care
How do I care for solid wood furniture?
Solid wood furniture is easy to maintain.
- Dust regularly with a soft cloth.
- Clean spills promptly.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight.
- Use coasters and placemats.
- Maintain consistent indoor humidity.
With proper care, solid wood furniture can last for generations.
Will my table change over time?
Yes—and that’s part of the beauty of real wood. Seasonal humidity changes may cause minor movement, which is completely normal for solid hardwood furniture.
Design Questions
Can you match existing furniture?
Often, yes. While every handmade piece is unique, designs, colors, and finishes can frequently be coordinated with existing furniture.
Do you build from customer sketches or photos?
Absolutely. Inspiration photos, sketches, and ideas are excellent starting points for creating a custom design.
Location & Delivery
Where is Troon Woodshop located?
Troon Woodshop is based in Ohio and proudly serves clients throughout Northeast Ohio and surrounding areas.
Do you deliver?
Delivery options depend on the size of the project and destination. Delivery or pickup arrangements are discussed during the ordering process.
Wood Species
Is Black Locust good for furniture?
Yes. Black Locust is exceptionally hard, strong, and durable. It is well suited to tables, benches, shelving, and other furniture expected to receive regular use.
Can Black Locust furniture be used outdoors?
Black Locust has excellent natural resistance to decay and can be a strong choice for outdoor furniture. Proper joinery, drainage, hardware, finishing, and maintenance remain important.
Is Black Locust harder than oak?
Black Locust is generally harder than both Red Oak and White Oak according to commonly cited Janka hardness values. That added hardness improves resistance to denting but can also make the wood more demanding to machine and fasten.
What color is Black Locust wood?
Its heartwood commonly ranges from golden yellow to medium brown, sometimes with olive, greenish, or dark brown streaks. The color usually deepens and becomes warmer with age.
Are Black Locust and Honey Locust the same wood?
No. They are different species with different wood characteristics. Black Locust is generally recognized for its exceptional hardness and natural resistance to decay.
Does Cherry wood darken over time?
Yes. Natural Cherry begins relatively light and gradually develops deeper amber and reddish-brown coloring through exposure to air and light. This is a normal and desirable characteristic of the wood.
How quickly does Cherry furniture change color?
The most noticeable change often occurs during the first several months, although Cherry can continue to deepen for years. Sunlight and the amount of exposure influence how quickly the change occurs.
Is Cherry wood good for dining tables?
Yes. Cherry is stable, attractive, and sufficiently durable for dining tables. A protective finish and reasonable care help guard against spills, heat, scratches, and everyday wear.
Is Cherry harder than Walnut?
Cherry and Black Walnut are relatively close in hardness, although Cherry is generally rated slightly softer. Actual performance also depends on the board, construction, finish, and how the furniture is used.
Should Cherry wood be stained?
Cherry can be stained, but it does not need dark stain to develop rich color. A clear or lightly toned finish allows its natural aging and grain to remain visible.
Is all Mahogany the same wood?
No. Genuine Mahogany comes from the Swietenia genus, while African Mahogany comes from related Khaya species. Several unrelated woods are also marketed using “mahogany” in their trade names.
What color is Mahogany wood?
Mahogany commonly ranges from pinkish or medium brown to a deeper reddish brown. Its color often becomes warmer and richer with exposure to air and light.
Is Mahogany good for furniture?
Yes. Properly identified and dried Mahogany can offer an excellent combination of stability, workability, warm color, and finishing qualities for interior furniture.
Can Mahogany furniture be used outdoors?
Some species and grades may be suitable for exterior applications, but the name “mahogany” alone is not enough to make that decision. Species, heartwood content, construction, finish, and exposure must be considered.
Is Mahogany responsibly sourced?
It can be, but documentation matters. Buyers and makers should work with reputable suppliers that can identify the species and provide appropriate information about origin and legal trade.
What is the difference between Hard Maple and Soft Maple?
Hard Maple generally refers to Sugar Maple and closely related wood. Soft Maple is a commercial group containing several other Maple species. Hard Maple is denser and more resistant to dents, while Soft Maple is easier to work and still suitable for many furniture applications.
Is Maple good for dining tables?
Yes. Hard Maple is particularly well suited to dining tables because of its hardness and resistance to everyday wear. Soft Maple can also be used when moderate hardness is acceptable.
Does Maple wood darken over time?
Maple usually develops a warmer, slightly amber or golden tone with age. The amount of change depends on the species, finish, and exposure to light.
Is figured Maple a different species?
Not necessarily. Curly, birdseye, and quilted Maple describe natural figure patterns that may occur in Maple wood. They are not individual botanical species.
Is Maple easy to stain?
Maple can be stained, but its tight grain may absorb color unevenly and produce blotching. Test samples and an appropriate finishing method are important.
General Questions
Why choose Troon Woodshop?
Every piece is built with attention to detail, premium materials, and a passion for craftsmanship. Rather than producing furniture in volume, the focus is on creating heirloom-quality pieces designed to be enjoyed for decades.
Let’s Build Something Together
Whether you’re looking for a live edge dining table, a custom coffee table, floating shelves, or a one-of-a-kind furniture piece, Troon Woodshop is here to help bring your vision to life.