How Amish Cabinetmakers Use Tried and Proven Techniques to Enhance Quality

How Amish Cabinetmakers Use Tried and Proven Techniques to Enhance Quality

There’s an old saying, ‘You can’t improve on perfection.’ It means that once something is without a flaw, it can’t be further improved or refined. Many items we take for granted fall into this category. For example, there’s the arch design in architecture, a deck of cards, a paper clip, and a pair of scissors. These items have performed so well over time that they have essentially remained unchanged. The same holds in the world of Amish cabinetmaking, as you’ll see in How Amish Cabinetmakers Use Tried and Proven Techniques to Enhance Quality.

Do Amish cabinetmakers pass down their woodworking skills?

Absolutely. Amish men typically teach valuable skills, including cabinetmaking, to the next generation. This tradition intensifies when Amish boys end their formal education at the 8^th grade. Some of the tried-and-true skills and practices handed down through generations of Amish craftsmen have worked so well, they’re still in use today. Four of these are integrating dovetail joints, mortise and tenon joints, steam-bent wood, and countersunk screws into furniture.

Are dovetail joints superior to others?

Most certainly! Dovetail joints have proven themselves to be superior to other woodworking joints in strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Dovetail joints are considered to be a benchmark of quality craftsmanship, including that of Amish cabinet and furniture builders. Most drawer ‘boxes’ built by Amish cabinetmakers use dovetail joints.

What makes a dovetail joint so strong?

Unlike joints in which two pieces of wood are joined together with a nail, screw, or glue, a dovetail joint uses an interlocking design consisting of ‘tails’ (shaped like a dove’s tail) and ‘pins.’ The piece of wood with the ‘pins’ cut into one end is connected at a right angle with another piece with the ‘tails’ cut into the end. They interlock perfectly and cannot be pulled apart, especially when glued together.

Where are dovetail joints used in Amish furniture?

Amish cabinetmakers primarily use dovetail joints in the drawers of nightstands, dressers, chests, occasional tables, desks, armoires, cabinets, and credenzas. The joint provides extra strength and durability to drawers, which may be filled with clothing, pantry items, or office supplies, and are opened and closed thousands of times over the years.

What makes mortise and tenon joints so popular with Amish cabinetmakers?

Strength, durability, and beautiful aesthetic looks make the mortise and tenon joint a favorite among Amish cabinetmakers. Used for joining two pieces of wood at a right angle, the joint involves cutting a hole (usually rectangular) into one piece of wood (the mortise) and creating a ‘plug’ of identical size and shape (the tenon). Gluing the mortise and tenon together creates an incredibly sturdy, finished, and handsome joint.

Where are mortise and tenon joints used in Amish furniture?

Amish cabinetmakers use mortise and tenon joints in numerous pieces of furniture, including bed frames, mirror frames, cabinets, tables, and chairs. For example, the joint is used to connect slats to the seat and the top rail of chairs.  Mortise and tenon joints tend to simplify the furniture design, thereby enhancing the overall look of the piece.

Why is Amish steam-bent furniture so attractive?

Steam-bent furniture catches the eye because of its gracious curves and simple, minimalist design. In the steam-bending process, Amish artisans expose wood to steam, making the wood pliable so it can be bent and stretched into the desired shape. When the wood cools down, it retains the new shape. Among steam-bent Amish furniture pieces are chairs with a steam-bent backrest and/or slats, as well as dining tables with the skirt (the strip of wood below the tabletop) curved at the corners.

Why are countersunk screws so important to Amish cabinetmakers?

Amish cabinetmakers integrate countersunk (flat-head) screws into furniture instead of cheaper and less effective alternatives like brads, tacks, and nails. Specifically designed for dense hardwoods, countersunk screws effectively penetrate the wood without splitting it. And when fully inserted, the screwheads are flush with the surface. This gives the piece a neat look. Cabinetmakers sometimes cover the screwheads with plugs for an even sleeker appearance.

Is Amish furniture superior to others?

Amish furniture has distinguished itself as superior to many other furniture options because of its excellent craftsmanship, use of solid hardwoods, and unwavering attention to detail. The skills and practices of integrating dovetail joints, mortise and tenon joints, steam-bent wood, and countersunk screws into furniture reinforce this point.

Can I find Amish furniture online?

The process of finding Amish furniture online is rather simple. Start by going online and asking for ‘Amish furniture’ or similar words. You’ll see a list of Amish furniture retailers on your screen. Among them is e-Amish Furniture. They offer finished heirloom-quality Amish furniture from their large inventory. Or, you can order pieces with customization and receive them fast through their Quick Ship program. And to find out more about how Amish furniture is built, visit Amish Furniture Shops: A Tradition of Cabinetmaking Excellence.