A Legacy of Canadian Furniture Craftsmanship
What is Canadian Craftsmanship?
These days, consumers may not encounter many things that are built to last, but they do exist. In 1999, Handstone Furniture started as a one-man woodworking shop in rural, Southern Ontario and today they remain a family-owned Canadian manufacturer of custom-made, solid wood furniture. The team still hand selects kiln-dried cherry, maple and red oak hardwoods for their collection. They invest in state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment with precision accuracy yet focus on the attention to detail that comes with a reverence for old world craftsmanship. Through the practice of lean manufacturing methods each piece is built-to-order. It takes a bit longer to build, but the lasting beauty is worth it.
Trademarks of quality craftsmanship’s fit, finish and functionality.
The 3Fs are elements of old-world attention to detail skillfully adapted into modern technology that starts with the use of computer-aided design systems to ensure every piece is designed with accuracy and consistency. Using state-of-the-art machinery ensures components are produced with precision. New and old-world techniques marry the use of automated sanding and hand sanding of each piece before applying finishes. Using advanced technology, vinyl sealers varnish each piece to showcase a high quality, consistent finish.
The Process.
Every piece is handcrafted in Canada, which means “built to order”. Customers choose the wood, stain, hardware, upholstery and every other element that goes into making their furniture unique, even when sizing needs to be customized. The buying process is streamlined and easy through the assistance of a Handstone dealer who prepare a sketch of the desired changes including measurements. From this sketch, the team prepares a design that is approved by the customer. It’s that simple. Domestic manufacturing gives flexibility in offering custom choices where customers can also be assured that their new purchase is produced with minimal impact on the environment.
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Environmentally Conscious.
The finishing processes are environmentally conscious, using solar heat and cogeneration of electricity to reduce gas emissions. Recycling solvents reduces waste sent to MOE certified processors, giving it a second use. From start to finish, raw wood pieces are painstakingly sanded and inspected by flat beam non-glare inspection lights, allowing imperfections or indents to be reworked prior to the colour application. In this process, deep penetrating NGR dyes are sprayed on the raw wood, followed by stain before carefully hand wiping to create even colour tones. The team is very passionate about the quality of stain colours which is evident through clear, vibrant colour tones. This fine process is what makes durable, chemical-resistant finishes. Final steps include inspection and polishing to a brilliant lustre.
Building a Greener Today and Tomorrow.
Handstone Furniture is built to last by constructing pieces from solid wood with dovetail drawers and a premium finish. When furniture builds are complete in the workshop, even the sawdust produced is recycled as livestock bedding and the scrap wood is used to heat homes. Find a Handstone dealer located near you at handstone.ca to start building your family heirloom furniture.