A surprising number of the wood pieces in stores are fakes disguised as the real thing. Amish furniture, especially, is often copied in non-wood materials. It is then sold at the higher price that sturdy, real wood pieces command.

The consumer is stuck with a piece that is of sub-quality material that will break or wear much faster than real wood. Fortunately, there is a way to spot a real piece of furniture.

8 Ways to Spot the Real Deal

1. Turn it upside down. Real wood furniture has unfinished wood “studs” that are a part of the piece’s construction. Look under tables. Pull out drawers and look at the back of furniture. If there are no studs, chances are this is not real wood.
2. Try to pick it up. Real wood furniture is very heavy, much heavier than the faux wood materials. If the dining table takes two men to heft, or that dresser must be moved with a dolly and an extra hand, you may have real wood on your hands.
3. Feel it. The wood grain texture is very difficult to fake. Run your fingers over the piece to feel the ridges. There should be peaks and valleys. Sometimes the finish fills in the grain, so don’t dismiss the piece if you can’t feel the grain.
4. Smell it. Furniture made of evergreens (pine and cedar) have a very strong and distinct smell. Other hardwoods like hickory, maple, and oak will also have a smell of earth and wood. Point your nose toward the unfinished portions underneath and inside of wood furniture pieces. The cherry wood often used by Amish Tables will also give off a wood-like smell.
5. Look for patterns. Planks form quarter sawn oak furniture. White oak has a tiger stripping effect, while red oak is characterized by it ring-like pattern (see the Charleston Chest by Amish Tables for an example).
6. Pay attention to the coloring. Cherry wood furniture should have light and dark pieces that aren’t uniform, as the wood’s color varies from the middle of a log to the wood located near the bark. See the Belmont Bed. Hickory wood color varies in a greater degree than cherry wood as does black walnut and cedar. The Heritage 4 Drawer Chest has this light and dark color pattern. Another trick is to trace the grain lines to the end of the board. The line should be continuous; forming a half ring where the wood was saw off to make the table edge.
7. Get a closer look at the detail. Real wood pieces have intricate detail that is obviously hand carved. You can see the imperfections with a magnifying glass.
8. Search for planks or pieces. Particleboard and veneers can be made in one long sheet. Thus Planking can be a sign of real wood. For an example, see the BonBelle Armoire by Amish Tables.

Up Close and Personal

The only way to know if the piece that caught your eye is real wood is to get a good look at it. Bring a flashlight and magnifying glass to help you get up close and personal with the pieces. Look beyond the beautiful surface and you may just save yourself the cost and headache of buying a fake disguised as the real deal.