heirloom quality argument made for me.

[drumpriest]

I have had an argument with a good friend at work over ikea vs heirloom furniture, and the impact upon the environment. She advocates using ikea stuff because it is made of recycled materials (sawdust, etc...), where as I argue that heirloom furniture often lives as long as the trees took to grow, and sometimes longer. Not to mention the use of carcinogenic materials in the production of MDF, particle board, and even plywoods. These guys make some of my argument for me, which is nice....

http://www.geekchichq.com/Theory_Con...m_Quality.html

[Knottscott]

The difference between an actual "heirloom" and "heirloom quality" is the intent and love with which it is made and/or given. Now, if the heirloom is made from salvaged materials, great...

IKEA is just a four letter word!

[cgallery]

MDF/particle board isn't from recycled materials, it is from primary waste. There is a BIG difference. IKEA products that are disposed of don't get recycled into new IKEA products. They go in a landfill, chemical binders and petroleum-based vinyl wraps in all.

The furniture you make is from 100% renewable materials. IKEA is NOT. Like I said, vinyls and plastics are petro-based and of a finite supply.

[jking]

The furniture you make is from 100% renewable materials. IKEA is NOT. Like I said, vinyls and plastics are petro-based and of a finite supply.

Not to mention Keith makes much nicer looking furniture than IKEA...

[cgallery]

Not to mention Keith makes much nicer looking furniture than IKEA...

+1 on that. That goes without saying (which is why I didn't say it ).

Seriously, though, anyone that argues that IKEA makes environmental sense is doing more harm than good. IKEA is NOT recycled furniture. It is waste product furniture made with non-renewable components, with a short life cycle, and not easily recycled or biodegradable due to the vinyl cladding.

[Thalermade]

Interesting discussion.

To me Ikea is just another item of convenience (if not affordable and/or disposable), as in "I want, what I want, NOW!"

Heirloom to me does not necessarily have to be dovetails and mortises.

My example of an heirloom is the desk built by my Grandfather in the mid 1950's for my Dad's little brother. In the mid 1960's my older brother was given the desk. He kept it through high school, college and it was his daughters desk until the late 1980's, she wanted something else. I proudly took possession of the desk. and it currently sits in my son's room, not matching a thing. I think it is made of southern yellow pine, with butt joints and a hardboard top. I was amazed when my uncle looked at the desk a few years ago and revealed he kept his comic books in the middle drawer.

That my friends, is an heirloom. Recycled in a different manner as well.

I will post a picture later.
Russ

[cabinetman]

This question comes up quite often. The details of the environmental impact can be argued, but as far as what comprises "heirloom furniture" may be part of the discussion. It's entirely possible that an IKEA piece could be handed down as an "heirloom" and not contain any of natures organic goodies.

Likewise, an all wood product made by a craftsman may not in its empirical sense qualify as an "heirloom" piece because it was made with power tools. How a product is considered is wholly an individual perception. I think the demand for both handmade solid wood type pieces and the production based pieces made from modern chemistry will have their place in our society.

I'm sure there are groups out there that are funded somehow doing research right at this moment determining the resulting impact from both types of products. In the end, the disposal (both types) of items that don't make it to a landfill to rot their way into oblivion get incinerated like all get out.
.

[catta12]

Interesting discussion.

My example of an heirloom is the desk built by my Grandfather in the mid 1950's for my Dad's little brother. In the mid 1960's my older brother was given the desk. He kept it through high school, college and it was his daughters desk until the late 1980's when she wanted something else. I proudly took possession of the desk. and it currently sits in my son's room, not matching a thing. I think it is made of southern yellow pine, with butt joints and a hardboard top. I was amazed when my uncle looked at the desk a few years ago and revealed he kept his comic books in the middle drawer.

No IKEA desk could have made that journey.

[JR]

Going on a slight tangent here...

Some craftsmen are working with bent laminates, touting the efficiency of that technique vs solid hardwoods. The efficiency, AFAIK, can be seen most obviously in chairs, where the construction of curved legs, backs, and seats leaves a lot of waste. It's proposed that laminations produce lest waste.

OTOH, in California we now have extensive green-waste recycling. I put my wood chips in the green-waste bin, along with yard waste. It's picked up every week and processed separately from regular trash, producing mulch and I don't know what. So the waste argument would seem to have less weight here.

JR