Machines and Tools for Wood based Furniture Production

By: Dr. Carlito G. Impas, Sr.

If you would like to set up a solid wood furniture production, this article will guide and provide you a
rief overview of what machines and tools that should e used. !his is not an attempt to cover every
single machine and tools ut at least this article would help you what machines and tools to uy. !he
criteria I have used to select the machines listed in the article are those generally considered y
furniture manufacturer to e the minimum re"uirements for efficient and productive operation in
producing wood ased furniture.
Generally, there are # ma$or processes in producing or making wood ased furniture. !hese are the
wood drying, machining, assemly, and finishing. %owever, if the operation will e designed for mass
production, then, these processes will e divided into su&processes. 'achining is divided into rough
milling and fine machining. (ssemly is divided into two su&processes also which are the su
assemly and final assemly while finishing is divided into ) su&processes, the surface preparation
and polishing process. But, this article shall cover only the machining, assemly and sanding
processes.
If you are planning set up a factory with kiln dried lumer re"uirements of *++ to ,,+++ d ft a month
and you will uy green lumer, a cainet or chest type electric kiln drier with a capacity of ,,+++ d.ft
will e needed ut if you are planning to set up a company with lumer re"uirements of *,+++ to
,+,+++ d ft per month an electric kiln drier with a capacity of ,),+++ d ft. is appropriate. %owever, if
you are not planning to invest on this type of -iln Drier, then you have to uy kiln dried lumer from
lumer supplier ut you need to invest a lumer dehumidifier for storage of lumer in order to maintain
the desired moisture content for e.port market. /ou need to invest a moisture tester which will e
used to check the moisture content of the wood.
!he machines you need for machining process depends upon the si0e of the company you want to
estalish. If you plan to produce furniture such as cainets then you need the following machines and
tools:
,. ( # hp, , 12hase, 3+%0 4adial (rm Saw or Cut off Saw with ,#5 Saw Blade Diameter
e"uipped automatic or manual rake.
). ( * hp, 12hase, 3+%0 Surface 2laner or 6ointer with at least *++ mm working tale, with
cutterlock # pcs %SS planer knives and safety cover, knife setting gauge, e"uipped
automatic rake, maintenance tools, and has a net weight of not less than *++ kgs
1. ( * hp, 12hase, 3+%0 !hickness 2laner with at least *++ mm working tale, with
cutterlock # pcs %SS planer knives, variale feed speed, automatic rake, knife setting
gauge, maintenance tools, and has a net weight of not less than 7++ kgs
#. ( 7.* hp, 12hase, 3+%0 Circular Saw with at least )8++ mm sliding tale, #++ mm Saw
Blade Diameter, e"uipped with safety devices and attachment, automatic rake,
maintenance tools, and has a net weight of not less than 7++ kgs. Saw lades you need
for this machine are rip saw lade, universal saw lade, cross cut saw lade for solid
wood and man made oards like 'D9.
*. ( frame laminating 2ress machine for wood and frame lamination.
3. ( * hp, 12hase, 3+%0 Band Saw 'achine with at least 3++ mm flywheel diameter
e"uipped automatic or manual rake. Band Saw Blades needed for this machine are :5,
;5, and ,5 maintenance tools, and has a net weight of not less than 7++ kgs.
7. ( 7.* hp, 12hase, 3+%0 Spindle 'older with at least )*+ mm spindle working height, at
least # variale speed, e"uipped with safety devices and attachment, automatic rake,
maintenance tools, and has a net weight of not less than 7++ kgs. Standard Cutterheads
for this machine should e 4eate Cutterhead, Build up cutterhead, <ari&(ngle
cutterhead, and grooving cutter head.
8. 2ortale 'iter Saw and 6ig Saw
=. ( * hp, 12hase, 3+%0 >verhead 4outer with at least 8++ mm working tale, maintenance
tools, and has a net weight of not less than 7++ kgs. Standard ,+ and ,) mm chuck for ,)
mm shank straight, half round and "uarter round router its.
,+. ( # hp, 12hase, 3+%0 slot mortising or hori0ontal oring machines with net weight of not
less than 3++ kgs. Standard ,+ and ,) mm Dowel Drill its and Slot mortising its are
needed.
,,. Drill press with ad$ustale chuck capacity of ;5 and drill gun.
,). ( 3+ tons ,)++ . )#++ mm %ydraulic %ot press is needed for <eneer lamination.
,1. Stroke Sanding machine with ,*+ mm width Sanding Belt
,#. >scillating ?dge Sanding machine with ,*+mm width Sanding Belt
,*. <eneer trimmer and veneer stitching machine which shall e used if the cainets need
veneer lamination.
If you plan to produce chairs and tales at the same time cainets, tenoning machine, mortising
machine, copy milling machine, lathe machine, and copy shaper will e added to the aove machines.
'oreover, a dehumidifier for parts ready for assemly should also e considered.
9or assemly, you need to uy 9&Clamps from #++ mm to ,)++ mm if assemly machine is not
availale. But, if you will invest assemly machines then you should uy the Carcass (ssemly press,
!ale frame press, (ir !uckers and Screw gun
9or Sanding process, you need to uy portale sanding machines like pneumatic orital sanders.
Sanding locks are also necessary to produce "uality wood for manual sanding. (fter sanding, items
ready for polishing should also e put inside the dehumidifier to ensure that the desired moisture
content will e maintained prior shipment. !o check the moisture content efore finishing, you have to
use a another type of moisture that will not damage the surface.
If you want to set up a wooden furniture factory, $ust please contact C9I9 for more details on machine
and e"uipment re"uirements