Materials used in Strasser Woodenworks products
Construction Materials
- We use a variety of materials in crafting our products. Sound engineering determines which
material is best suited for each specific application. This can vary from one style family to
another, one door/drawer style to another, and even from one finish to another. We consider
the use and function of each component and choose construction materials with the optimum
characteristics accordingly. For example, we do not use natural wood shelves inside our
vanities due to the variety of cleaning chemicals usually stored there. Instead, we use a shelf
that has a chemical proof melamine coating. On the other hand, shelves in linen cabinets are
wood with our catalyzed conversion coatings to match the outside finish.
- For vanities and furniture with natural finishes, we use natural American hardwoods (cherry,
maple, oak) for door/drawer faces and hardwood veneer plywood for cabinets. Vanities and
furniture that are finished in a color (satin white, satin biscuit, satin red, satin blue, satin green,
satin black) have door/drawer faces of solid maple in most cases and hardwood veneer plywood
in the cabinet body. Three style/finish choices (ultraline gloss white, ultraline satin white,
and beaded satin white) use thermofoil wrapped mdf doors and melamine laminated mdf
cabinet parts. These are extremely durable finishes.
- Everything we do is based on one principle: to give the consumer the highest quality cabinet possible made from the best materials available for the application.
Door and Drawer Faces
- All doors and Drawer faces are ¾” thick.
- Natural wood finishes are solid hardwood
- Colors are applied to solid maple
- Exceptions are Ultraline Gloss White, Ultraline Satin White, Beaded Satin White
which have a 16 mil thermofoil (PVC) vacuum formed coating
- Ultraline - solid ¾”
- Beaded - 5-piece door. Frame ¾”
- Shaker - 5-piece door. Frame ¾”
- Mitre - 5-piece door. Frame ¾”
- Slab - solid ¾”
Cabinet Bodies
- Construction is ¾” thick material
- Vanities, Drawer Banks do not have back panels
- Linens, Étagères have ¼” thick back panels
- Front stretchers (top & bottom) are hardwood veneer plywood (edge banded to seal)
- Exceptions are Ultraline Gloss White, Ultraline Satin White, Beaded Satin White
which have melamine laminated mdf (edge banded to seal) stretchers
- Sides are hardwood veneer plywood (edge banded to seal)
- Exceptions are Ultraline Gloss White, Ultraline Satin White, Beaded Satin White which have melamine laminated mdf (edge banded to seal) side panels
- Rear stretchers (top & bottom) are melamine laminated mdf (edge banded to seal)
- Furniture & Accent style have solid hardwood legs
Finishes
- Natural or stained finishes - two coats catalyzed conversion varnish
- hand rubbed between coats
- Colors - two coats pigmented conversion varnish with additional clear top coat
- hand rubbed between coats
Interior shelves
- In vanities - mdf w/maple melamine finish (chemical proof) for durability
and easy cleaning (wood or paint finishes will not hold up here)
- In linen uppers, furniture & accent linens, Étagères - ¾” hardwood veneer plywood
finished to match cabinet finish
- In Etageres - ¾” plywood to match cabinet finish
- In medicine cabinets - 5/16" frosted Plexiglas
Hardware
- Salice Italian metal drawer system
- Drawer sides are heavy gauge powder coated steel
- Integrated glides
- Bottom and back are ½” mdf w/maple melamine finish (chemical proof) for durability and easy cleaning (wood finishes will not hold up here)
- Soft close - spring loaded hydraulic cylinder
- Doors
- 6-way hinges
- Integrated soft close in hinges
Medium Density Fiberboard (mdf)
- Medium density fiberboard (mdf) is not to be confused with particle board. Mdf is a highly engineered
product designed for cabinets and furniture. Particle board is a poor quality product
made from wood chips, sawdust, and glue and then pressed together under low pressure.
Mdf is made from individual wood fibers separated from larger pieces by a very technical
process. The fibers are then mixed with a resin and tightly compressed to form a sheet that
is smooth, holds screws well, takes finishes well, and will never warp. Mdf actually contains
more wood fiber that solid wood and the fibers are not unidirectional like solid wood so it can
not warp.
Formaldehyde
- All Strasser products meet or exceed current California Air Resources Board (CARB) formaldehyde
content regulations 93120.2.
- What does this mean to you? This is a California regulation to reduce Formaldehyde emissions
from composite wood products including plywood. This is a very positive step and
Strasser Woodenworks embraces this and further steps to make products safer for the home.
You can feel confident that Strasser Woodenworks will always have your best interest in mind
and that we will always produce products from the best and safest materials available. For
more information go to www.carb.org.
- Many imported vanities and wood furniture may still not be in compliance. Check to make
sure that the product you are considering is CARB compliant. If not compliant do not purchase
it and contact the retailer. The enforcement of this regulation falls on the retailer. Considering
the current budget constraints there is no active enforcement of this regulation other
than the retailer and the consumer.
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