Steam-bending, veneering or mortise-and-tenon? Picking the right technique
Journal / Craft
CraftSteam-bending, veneering or mortise-and-tenon? Picking the right technique
Three core techniques we use in the workshop, what each one is good for, and how we decide which to use.
Technique is never just about tradition. It's about intention. Every joint, curve and surface serves a purpose, and choosing the right method is what separates considered craftsmanship from decoration.
We're often asked why we've used one technique over another, especially when the finished piece looks deceptively simple. Here's how three of our core methods work, and how we decide between them.
Steam-bending: natural curves without compromise
What it is. Timber is heated with steam until its fibres soften, then bent around a form and held there until it cools and sets in its new shape.
When we use it. When we want flowing, organic curves that look as if they grew that way. Because the wood is bent rather than cut, the grain runs continuously around the curve.
- No glue lines or laminations on show
- Strength is kept through the curve
- Less waste than cutting curves from large solid boards
Best for: sculptural furniture, curved rails and handles, and soft details in cabinetry.
Veneering: visual impact and material efficiency
What it is. Thin slices of timber are laid onto a stable core, such as birch plywood or MDF, to create the surface. It's how most fine cabinetry is made.
When we use it. For large or highly figured surfaces, where solid timber would move too much or be prohibitively expensive, and where we want precise control over how the grain is matched.
- Makes rare and dramatic timbers usable responsibly
- Allows bookmatched and sequence-matched grain across doors and panels
- Far more stable than wide solid boards, so less prone to warping
Best for: cabinet doors, wall panelling, matched-grain runs and inlay work. Our Santos rosewood shelving is a good example.
Mortise-and-tenon: strength that's meant to last
What it is. A projecting tenon on one part fits tightly into a matching slot, the mortise, in another. It's one of the oldest and strongest joints in woodworking.
When we use it. Wherever a joint has to carry load or take years of use, and where glue alone isn't enough.
- Very strong, even without screws or fixings
- Ideal for frames and anything load-bearing
- Can be left exposed as an honest, visible detail
Best for: doors, frames, table bases, legs and rails.
So how do we choose?
It comes down to three questions:
- What does the piece need to do? Carry weight, move, flex or simply look beautiful.
- What does the space call for? Clean lines, soft curves or a seamless finish.
- How will the material behave? Every timber moves differently with heat and humidity, and the design has to allow for it.
Often we'll use all three in one project. It isn't about following a rulebook. It's about finding the most elegant, practical and long-lasting answer to the brief. If you'd like to talk through a piece of your own, get in touch, or follow our builds on Instagram.
Got a space in mind?
Tell us about it and we'll come back to you personally within two working days. Based in Winchcombe, working across the Cotswolds, London and the rest of the UK.