Woodworking Guides & Tips
Practical advice for furniture makers, joiners, and DIY enthusiasts — from choosing the right timber to measuring for bespoke components. Written by the team at Farwinger.
Choosing the Right Wood Species for Furniture Components
The species you choose affects durability, workability, and how well a component holds fixings. Here's a quick guide to the hardwoods we work with most:
- Oak — Strong, open-grained, very durable. Takes stain and oil beautifully. Ideal for structural legs and rails.
- Beech — Hard and fine-grained, excellent for turned components. More affordable than oak; works well painted or natural.
- Ash — Pale, flexible, and shock-resistant. A great all-rounder for turned and machined parts.
- Walnut — Premium, dark, and richly grained. Popular for feature legs and display pieces.
Unsure which species fits your project? We're happy to advise based on your finish, load, and budget.
Ask our team →Turned, Tapered, or Square? Choosing a Leg Profile
The leg profile is one of the most visible design decisions in a piece of furniture. Each style creates a different character:
- Turned legs — Classic, crafted profiles shaped on the lathe. Suit traditional, Shaker, or mid-century styles.
- Tapered legs — Clean and modern, narrowing from rail to foot. Work well on dining tables and sideboards.
- Square legs — Bold and architectural. Suit rustic, industrial, or contemporary chunky furniture.
- Spindle legs — Slender turned legs for console tables, side tables, and occasional furniture.
We can match an existing profile if you send a sketch or photo — all legs are made to your exact height and diameter.
Get a quote →How to Measure for Bespoke Furniture Components
Getting measurements right before you order saves time and avoids remakes. Here's what we need for the most common components:
- Legs: Overall length (including tenon if needed), diameter at the top, and taper ratio or profile sketch.
- Spindles & rails: Overall length, diameter at each end, drilled ends or turned profiles.
- Spheres & balls: Outer diameter, and whether a flat or drilled face is required.
- Flat panels: Length × width × thickness, plus grain direction if relevant.
A hand sketch with dimensions is always welcome — no technical drawings needed. We confirm everything before machining begins.
Start your order →Finish States for Wooden Components: What to Ask For
We supply components in three standard finish states. The right choice depends on what you're doing with them:
- Rough-sanded (80–120 grit) — Best if you're painting, staining, or applying a specialist coating yourself.
- Fine-sanded (180–240 grit) — Smooth and ready for oil, wax, or lacquer. Our most popular option for natural finishes.
- Pre-finished — Lightly oiled before despatch. Ideal for components going straight into a product or display.
We can also supply completely unfinished components for specialist treatments. Just note it when ordering.
Discuss your finish →Fitting Wooden Legs to Furniture: Fixing Methods Explained
Attaching bespoke legs securely is straightforward with the right method. Here are the three most common approaches:
- Hanger bolts & leg plates — The cleanest modern solution. A bolt drives into the leg; the plate screws to the frame underside. Easy to disassemble.
- Mortise & tenon — Traditional joinery for maximum strength. We can turn a tenon on the leg top to fit a mortise you cut in the rail.
- Dowels — Simple and strong for lighter pieces. We can pre-drill a centred hole in the leg top to accept a standard dowel.
Not sure which fixing suits your project? Our team can advise based on load requirements and your design.
Get advice →Timber Sourcing & Sustainability at Farwinger
We're committed to responsible sourcing across all our timber supply. In practice this means:
- FSC & PEFC certified stock — We prioritise certified timber and can confirm certification on request for commercial orders.
- British hardwoods — We stock and prefer home-grown oak, ash, and beech from UK woodland where possible.
- Waste minimisation — Offcuts are used for smaller components rather than wasted; available at reduced cost for small projects.
If sustainability credentials matter for your procurement process, get in touch and we'll provide documentation.
Request documentation →