Does anyone know anything about oak wood?

[Thelineisadottoyou]

My grandma has bought an oak table, she is really careful with her pension money so this is a huge thing for her and she has been very excited about it.

It has arrived and it has marks on it that just don’t seem right, the table looks a mess and she’s quite upset.

She complained and they sent a guy round to inspect it who basically said she has wasted his time and that’s how oak looks and she’s stupid if it thinks this is bad.

I’ve attached a picture, should I be pushing this further or is this an acceptable oak table?

I have seen those grain markings in oak and in maple, but that’s not really the point. The man was rude and dismissive, even if it is natural for the wood, if your grandmother isn’t happy about it, she should send it back.
Part of being a craftworker is selecting your materials carefully, and the maker hasn’t chosen well-matched pieces.
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Thanks that’s what I thought too, it wouldn’t have been as bad if it was on the underneath panel but it’s right on the top in eyesight which shows they haven’t put any thought into making it.

Those three semi-circular marks look dreadful - surely shouldn't be like that? I think you should push further.

I don't think that looks right

It's really difficult to tell if those marks are the graining of the wood or where the finish has been scraped off. If you run your fingers along that part, do the lighter areas feel different?

If the guy called her stupid I'd be sending the table back and demanding a refund on principle.

Did she look at the table before she bought it? Was it on a website or in a showroom?

It was from furniture village and so the one she saw didn’t have those markings on it. It’s weird because it’s a smooth finish it’s like they’ve varnished over the scrapings if that makes sense? It just looks terrible but the report says it is fine which has made me wonder if it is a natural occurring thing. It’s not with the grain of the wood either though it’s the opposite direction which made me thing it was a machine that has done it.

I used to work for a furniture manufacturer who had a sold oak range.

Those are natural markings in the wood but having them so prominent on a tabletop is not acceptable.

I have oak furniture and although you get different marks with the grain none of mine has marks as obvious as that. I think she is quite within her rights to send it back if she isn't happy with the quality. I should imagine it cost quite a lot of money?

I would send it back and ask for the one she saw.

Agree with PP. tell her to send it back and request one that doesn't have such prominent, obvious woodgrain defects.
Distance selling rules applies to products you order in store too. If they refuse, she has a good case to get a full refund to shop elsewhere.

These are the marks that my oak sideboard came with. They are clearly under the varnish.

Thanks for all the comments. I have got named on the account and they are going to ring me back. That’s a good point that even if they are natural having them on the table top doesn’t make sense, it’s a beautiful table bar these marks which ruin it. It cost a lot of money which is what has upset me really as my gran is so careful with her spending and this is a huge purchase for her.

They have told her she can’t have a refund nor will they swap it. Hopefully that’s a misunderstanding!

I had this with a table I bought from furniture village about ten years ago .. it came like that but worse and I complained to be told it was the wood grain .. I was upset because the one in the showroom didn't have it.. I still have the table and haven't really thought about it since this thread .

@gubbsywubbsy that’s terrible! Can’t believe they get away with it. Hopefully she won’t have to keep it!

Medullary rays, OP:

www.thefurnituremarket.co.uk/what-is-a-medullary-ray-in-oak-furniture

The thing with wood is that some people love its natural features and some people regard them as blemishes.

No excuse for company representative's behaviour, however.

Are they Medullary Rays ?
www.oakdirectuk.co.uk/pages/what-are-medullary-rays-in-oak-furniture

I hope your Nan brought it on credit, if so contact the finance firm straight away, they will help with a resolution.

Did she buy it online or from the showroom? That can also make a difference. Or if she paid by credit credit card the cc may also help.

If she paid cash not sure where she will stand, could ask for advice from trading standards. As it’s a matter of opinion, they will say wood is a natural product blah blah blah. Did she notice it at delivery, if so she should have rejected the goods.

We had major problems with a FV order, we will never buy anything else from them, quality looks great in the showroom, but honestly totally different on delivery we found, we had a very bad experience took months to get the situation resolved.

I hope your Gran, manages to get it sorted out, what a shame it has totally taken the shine off her excitement.

Good luck.

We've got a whole oak set in the living room, tv cabinet, coffee table, tall table and sideboard.

The tv cabinet had a similar mark on the front so the company swapped it, not furniture land though.

Yes Oak has various markings on it but it's common sense not to put the badly marked pieces in a prominent place.

I think you’re right that it’s medullary rays @fascicle and @queenofsandwich

Hopefully they’ll accept it as a return, even if they were to flip the panel over it wouldn’t be as bad but I imagine it’s not that easy!

Unfortunately she paid cash @yogagirl123 I wish I’d have gone with her and put it on my credit card just for the protection.

It is shake it happens we something happens to the tree ie heavy wind ,drought , lightning they make fiddles out of it it's called fiddle back .but there's no excuse for bad manners so get your money back

Unfortunately it isn't faulty, as these marks are naturally occurring. So the issue is that your nan just doesn't like them. That is not a reason why the seller should have to replace or refund the item.
Also, the person who came round and was rude, again that's not a reason for a refund. You'd like to think that the seller in this case might be inclined to replace the item, but they are under no obligation to do so.

Looking at my light oak worktop, which is a laminate, there are lots of these marks on. It adds to the character IMO.

Yes it’s medullary ray.

A bespoke furniture maker would check with the client if they were happy with that and if not select oak that doesn’t have much of it.

Most oak has it but you can get prices that show it less.

Some people love it and some hate it.

Without it a nice price of Oak can look quite plain and be mistaken by some people as Ash.
The occurrence of medullary day shows it’s Oak and so some people prefer it.

They are like stretch marks for wood