Furniture Repair Industry Terminology

Abrasive grit

A number that indicates the coarseness or fineness of sandpaper or sanding media; lower numbers cut faster and remove more material, higher numbers refine the surface for finishing.

Used 220-grit to level a filled chip; Stepped up to 320-grit before staining walnut; Avoided over-sanding the veneer edge with coarse 80-grit.

Ammonia fuming

A coloring process for tannin-rich woods (especially oak) that darkens wood by exposing it to concentrated ammonia vapors in an enclosed chamber.

Fumed the quartersawn oak table in a sealed tent for six hours; Chose fuming instead of dye to keep ray fleck visible; Used full-face respirator due to ammonia fumes.

Aniline dye

A transparent, penetrative dye used to color wood without obscuring grain; available in water-, alcohol-, and oil-soluble formulations.

Mixed a water-based aniline dye to match the existing mahogany tone; Used alcohol-soluble dye for faster dry time; Adjusted saturation to blend a leaf extension.

Backlog

The queue of accepted but unfinished jobs; used to plan capacity, staffing, and lead times.

Our backlog is six weeks for refinishing jobs; Paused marketing to manage the backlog; Prioritized warranty repairs within the backlog.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

A detailed list of all materials, components, and consumables needed to complete a repair or refinish, often with quantities and unit costs.

The BOM for the chair repair included tenons, hide glue, clamps, and stain; Updated the BOM to add grain filler; Used the BOM to estimate material cost.

Bookmatching

A veneer layout technique where adjacent slices from the same log are opened like a book to create symmetrical grain patterns.

Bookmatched new walnut veneer for the table leaves; Checked the door panels for original bookmatch before patching; Flipped the veneer leaf to mirror the cathedral grain.

Breakeven point

The level of sales or billable hours at which total revenue equals total costs, indicating no profit or loss.

Calculated breakeven hours at 120 shop hours per week; Increased shop rate after breakeven analysis; Deferred a low-margin job to stay above breakeven.

Burn-in stick

A hard resin or shellac-based stick melted into nicks, gouges, or open defects with a heated knife, then leveled and blended to repair finishes.

Filled a deep gouge with a walnut burn-in stick; Leveled the repair with a burn-in knife and polished out; Chose a low-sheen burn-in resin to match finish.

CA glue (Cyanoacrylate)

A fast-curing adhesive available in thin to gel viscosities, used for quick repairs, crack stabilization, and small fills.

Used thin CA to wick into a hairline crack; Sprayed activator to set CA instantly; Avoided CA on squeeze-out areas to prevent finish adhesion issues.

Catalyzed lacquer

A lacquer that uses a catalyst (acid or isocyanate) to crosslink, improving durability, chemical resistance, and print resistance compared to nitrocellulose lacquer.

Switched to pre-cat lacquer for a hotel headboard project; Mixed catalyst per manufacturer’s ratio; Let catalyzed lacquer cure before rubbing out.

Checking (wood)

Small cracks that run along the grain, often caused by uneven moisture loss or environmental stress.

Stabilized checking on a tabletop with epoxy; Oriented dutchman patches across checks; Controlled shop RH to prevent new checking.

CITES compliance

Adherence to regulations governing trade in endangered wood species (e.g., certain rosewoods), requiring documentation and permits for import/export.

Verified CITES paperwork for rosewood legs; Declined to ship internationally without CITES permits; Substituted sapele to avoid CITES issues.

CLV (Customer Lifetime Value)

An estimate of total revenue a business expects from a customer over the entire relationship, guiding marketing and service decisions.

Offered maintenance plans to increase CLV; Tracked CLV by channel in the CRM; Prioritized fast turnaround for high-CLV clients.

COGS (Cost of Goods Sold)

Direct costs attributable to producing a repair or refinish, typically materials and consumables, sometimes direct labor depending on accounting method.

Included abrasives and finish in COGS; Separated labor from COGS for better margin tracking; Lowered COGS by buying bulk filler.

Color matching

The process of replicating the hue, value, and chroma of an existing finish using dyes, stains, toners, glazes, and topcoat adjustments.

Built the color with a dye base, then toned with lacquer; Used a glaze to push warmth in the sapwood; Checked color in daylight and under LEDs.

Consolidation (wood)

Stabilizing degraded or worm-eaten wood fibers using penetrating resins or adhesives to restore structural integrity.

Saturated punky feet with low-viscosity epoxy consolidant; Applied consolidant before carving in a patch; Masked sound wood to limit absorption.

Distressing

Intentional aging techniques that simulate wear, dents, and abrasion to blend repairs or achieve a vintage aesthetic.

Applied edge wear to match antique chairs; Used chain and rasp for realistic distress; Glazed and waxed to finish the distressed look.

Dovetail joint

An interlocking joinery method used in drawers and carcasses, valued for mechanical strength and aesthetics.

Tightened loose drawer dovetails with hide glue; Recut worn pins and tails on a reproduction; Tested fit before gluing the dovetail back.

Dowel reinforcement

Using cylindrical wood pins to strengthen or realign joints, often in chair and frame repairs.

Drilled and glued dowels into loose chair rungs; Aligned dowels with grain to avoid blowout; Used fluted dowels for better glue distribution.

Dutchman patch

A shaped inlay (often a bowtie or rectangular) let into solid wood to stabilize splits or replace damaged areas.

Inlaid a butterfly key across a table crack; Cut a rectangular dutchman to replace missing knot; Oriented the patch grain to resist movement.

Epoxy

A two-part thermosetting adhesive and filler used for structural repairs, gap filling, and consolidation; available in different viscosities and cure speeds.

Thickened epoxy with filler for edge rebuild; Used slow-cure epoxy for longer open time; Tinted epoxy to match walnut end grain.

Estimate

A non-binding projection of cost and timeline for a job based on current information; distinct from a firm quote.

Issued an estimate pending color match approval; Noted that structural surprises could change the estimate; Converted the estimate to a work order after deposit.

Field service

Repair or touch-up work performed at the customer’s location, often focusing on cosmetic fixes and minor structural issues.

Performed an on-site touch-up at a hotel; Brought a mobile HVLP setup for a conference room table; Scheduled field service to avoid client downtime.

Finish schedule

A prescribed sequence of surface-prep, color, and topcoat steps that produces a repeatable finish result.

Documented the schedule: dye, sealer, glaze, toner, topcoat; Shared the schedule with the client for approval; Adjusted schedule to use waterborne topcoat.

French polish

A traditional shellac finishing technique applied with a pad (rubber) in many thin layers to achieve a high-gloss, repairable surface.

Spirited-on shellac to revive a 19th-century table; Used pumice and oil during French polishing; Avoided silicone contamination before polishing.

Glaze (finishing)

A pigmented, slow-drying medium applied between sealer and topcoat to adjust tone, add depth, or highlight profiles.

Applied a burnt umber glaze to deepen panel recesses; Wiped back glaze to leave color in pores; Sealed the glaze layer before toning.

Grain filling

Filling the pores of open-grained woods to achieve a smooth, mirror-like surface before topcoating.

Used oil-based grain filler on open-pore oak; Tinted the filler to match the base color; Sanded back to leave filler only in pores.

Grain raising

The swelling and lifting of wood fibers when exposed to water, often addressed by pre-wetting and sanding before finishing.

Pre-raised grain with water before waterborne finish; Sanded whiskers with 320-grit after raising; Avoided over-wetting veneer to prevent glue failure.

Hide glue

A protein-based adhesive prized in restoration for strong yet reversible bonds, compatible with historic joinery.

Repaired an antique chair with hot hide glue for reversibility; Reactivated old hide glue with steam; Used liquid hide glue for longer open time.

HVLP spraying

High Volume Low Pressure spray technology that delivers efficient transfer and reduced overspray for finishes.

Switched to HVLP to reduce overspray in the shop; Set the gun to 1.5 mm for waterborne lacquer; Balanced air pressure for proper atomization.

Inlay

Decorative material (wood, metal, shell) set into a recess in the substrate, flush with the surface.

Inlaid a contrasting wood to replace missing banding; Routed and set a decorative medallion; Matched the inlay’s finish sheen to the field.

Intake form

The job document capturing client info, condition notes, photos, scope, and terms at drop-off or pick-up.

Documented pre-existing damage on the intake form; Attached before-photos to the intake; Included liability terms in the intake paperwork.

Janka hardness

A standardized measure of wood species’ resistance to denting and wear, expressed in pounds-force or newtons.

Checked Janka values before choosing a filler; Selected a tougher topcoat for a high-Janka species; Explained dent resistance using Janka ratings.

Job costing

Tracking all labor, materials, and overhead allocations per job to measure profitability and inform pricing.

Logged labor and materials to job costing software; Discovered low margin on dining table jobs; Adjusted estimates based on job costing history.

Lacquer

A fast-drying solvent-borne finish (often nitrocellulose or acrylic) known for easy repair and good clarity.

Sprayed nitrocellulose lacquer for a quick repair; Avoided lacquer over uncured oil; Used retarder to prevent blushing in humid weather.

Lead time

The duration between job acceptance and completion or delivery, influenced by backlog, materials, and capacity.

Communicated a four-week lead time due to backlog; Ordered special veneer early to cut lead time; Built a rush fee for shortened lead time.

Liability waiver

A signed document that discloses risks and limits responsibility for certain damages during repair or transport.

Included a waiver for inherent risks in moving antiques; Noted finish testing may reveal hidden damage; Required waiver for field service in occupied spaces.

Margin

The difference between revenue and costs; often tracked as gross margin percentage to assess pricing and profitability.

Targeted 60 percent gross margin on touch-ups; Reviewed margin by service line monthly; Increased prices when material costs squeezed margin.

Marquetry

Pictorial veneer work composed of multiple species and pieces, often found on historic or high-end furniture.

Replaced missing floral marquetry with dyed veneers; Re-glued lifted marquetry with hot hide glue; Toned the repair to blend the pictorial scene.

Moisture content (MC)

The percentage of water in wood by weight; critical for preventing movement, joint failure, and finish defects.

Checked MC of a tabletop before gluing cracks; Let repaired parts acclimate to room EMC; Avoided sealing high-MC wood under a film finish.

Mortise and tenon

A classic joint where a projecting tenon fits into a mortise cavity, providing strength in chairs and frames.

Re-cut a worn tenon and added a shoulder; Used drawbore pins to tighten the joint; Chose hide glue to allow future disassembly.

Naphtha

A fast-evaporating solvent used for cleaning and for revealing how wood will look under a clear finish.

Wiped a surface with naphtha to preview color; Cleaned silicone contamination before finish; Used naphtha for safer, quick-evaporating degreasing.

Net 30

Common payment terms indicating that the invoice is due 30 days after the invoice date.

Invoiced commercial client on Net 30 terms; Added late fees after Net 30; Offered 2 percent discount for Net 10 to improve cash flow.

Overhead

Indirect business costs not directly tied to a job, such as rent, utilities, insurance, and admin labor.

Allocated rent and insurance as overhead; Increased shop rate to cover higher overhead; Reduced overhead by outsourcing delivery.

Oxalic acid

A wood bleach used to remove iron and water stains and lighten grayed wood; requires neutralization and safety precautions.

Removed black iron stains with oxalic wash; Neutralized and rinsed before refinishing; Tested oxalic on an inconspicuous area first.

Patina

The accumulated surface character from age, oxidation, and use; often preserved in restoration for authenticity and value.

Chose conservation to preserve patina on a chest; Blended repairs to maintain original sheen; Advised client against full refinish to keep patina.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Safety gear such as respirators, gloves, goggles, and hearing protection used to reduce exposure to hazards.

Wore a P100 respirator while spraying lacquer; Used cut-resistant gloves when scraping veneer; Added hearing protection in the spray booth.

Polyurethane

A durable film-forming finish available in oil- and water-based versions, known for abrasion and chemical resistance.

Applied oil-based poly for high-traffic tabletop; Switched to waterborne poly to reduce ambering; Avoided polyurethane over uncured stains.

PVA (Polyvinyl acetate)

A common wood glue (often called yellow or white glue) with good strength but limited heat resistance and reversibility.

Used PVA for a non-historic chair repair; Chose extended-open-time PVA for complex glue-up; Avoided PVA where reversibility was required.

Quality control (QC)

Systematic inspection and testing steps to ensure a repair meets finish, structural, and specification standards before handoff.

Performed QC checklist before delivery; Spotted orange peel during QC and re-rubbed the top; Verified color match in daylight as part of QC.