Combining materials

While wood is a great material in its own right, there are of course many other options. Combining wood and other materials is a good way to modernize your project, and in some cases, reduce cost. For fine woodwork, there’s really no need to use anything stronger than wood for 99% of tasks. Most of the time, these elements are added for decoration and a different look. In this article, I’ll discuss several of the most common materials that can add to your pieces aesthetics and function.

Metal

Obviously, there’s many different types of metal, so for the sake of brevity, I’ll discuss the 4 most common in these types of projects: brass, steel, aluminum, and copper. Brass, aluminum, and copper are all fairly similar in use. These metals are relatively soft, and can often be worked with tools meant for woodwork. They can add nice decorative features, and are often paired with darker woods for a modern look. These metals are all good choices for things like drawer pulls, door handles, hinges, and decorative accents. Steel is a bit different, although it can do most of the same things as the other three. Steel can take different finishes to give it a clean, brushed, polished, or rustic look. It’s popular for making pieces look rustic and vintage, and is also often used to make legs for tables. It is stronger than wood, and can therefore be made into parts smaller than what wood could handle. This promotes a minimalist, simple, and clean aesthetic.

Glass and Translucent Plastics

Ever popular, glass and plastics have lots of uses. Often, they take the place of a solid panel in things like cabinet doors, allowing the user to see into the cabinet from the outside. They can also allow light to escape, making colored plastics a popular option in wooden lamps. The most obvious use, however, is the face in picture frames and shadow boxes. Different people have different requirements for their projects. Plastics like polycarbonate are much stronger than glass, and lighter weight. They can’t replace the feel and scratch resistance of actual glass however.

Leather/fabric

Soft materials like leather and fabric are common in lots of different applications. Of course, they are often for upholstery to cushion things like the seat of a chair, but they can also add nice decorative elements to other areas. leather can make nice handles for boxes and chests, and fabric can be stretched over a frame to make a nice colorful back panel. The possibilities are vast with materials like this, and they can really add something to a lot of projects.