Timber Information

Every piece of wood is unique. The beauty of handcrafted furniture is its individuality. Our kitchens are handcrafted by skilled craftsmen in Rajasthan. Our ranges aren't machine made, moulded or mass produced, we don't use mdf, chipboard or melamine - they are created individually from Sheesham hardwood. Hardwood is a natural material which reacts to its environment. All the hardwoods used in our furniture are kiln dried to reduce the moisture content to match the average UK environment. This minimises the effects of changes in relative humidity which causes movement in the furniture. For further information on Sheesham hardwood, please read through the notes below.

Further information.
* Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) is one of the most useful timber sources of India. The heartwood is very hard and close grained with a specific gravity of 0.62-0.82.
* It seasons well and does not warp or split and is extremely durable.
* It is used for high quality furniture, cabinets, decorative veneer, marine and aircraft grade plywood, ornamental turnery, carving, engraving, tool handles and sporting goods.
* Its root wood is used for tobacco pipes.
* In village industry Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) is popular for doors and windows.

Tree management.
* A fast-growing species; growth rates of 3.7m in 1 year, 5m in 3 years, 11m in 5 years and 15m in 10 years have been recorded.
* Dalbergia sissoo (sheesham) plantations are established in block or strip plantations at 1.8 x 1.8m to 4 x 4m.
* Closer spacing is used for straight timber of good quality.
* When the canopy closes, at about 6 years, 30-40% of the stems are thinned to selectively remove suppressed, diseased and badly formed trees. Thinning is recommended every 10 years where the rotation is 30-60 years.
* There is evidence that the stumps begin to lose vigour after 2 or 3 rotations when managed as a coppice crop. It coppices vigorously up to about 20 years of age.