The other day, when I was trying to decide on what materials to use for a project, I almost wished I had more options to choose from than just plain old wood.

A better material than wood?

Then it hit me. Metal might be the answer. It had been so long since I incorporated metal into a piece that I almost forgot to consider it as an option. As soon as I thought that I remembered all the times in my furniture-making life I’d turned to metal and how the results had been quite pleasing.

Don’t get me wrong. In this case, as well as with other past work incorporating metal in the design, I’ve used solid wood, sheet goods, veneer or a mixture of these wonderful materials as the basis for the piece. I’m not at all considering abandoning the material we all love –  wood.

Heavy metal

Over the years, I’ve used a fairly wide range of metals in my furniture. Copper, steel, stainless steel, pewter and aluminum have all made their way into my work. If I had to choose a favourite, I’d go with copper. Its warm tone, ease of workability and almost soft feel are all huge pros in my mind. It’s even easy to find nearby and comes in many forms.

One of my favourite pieces that included copper is a music stand I made almost 20 years ago. Coupled with the rich tones of black walnut, the addition of copper added depth that would have otherwise been hard (maybe impossible) to do with other species of wood.

Over the years I’ve actually included two projects that using copper in build projects for the magazine. First, I made a cedar trellis with copper pipe that allowed our morning glories to climb. You can read about it here: https://canadianwoodworking.com/project/garden-trellis/. I also made a nice little tea light holder with a black walnut base and a copper reflector. You can read about it here.

I also made a dining table with planished copper inserts around the centre that could be seen through the glass tabletop.

I’ve also used stainless steel a few times. A good friend has a laser cutting machine that will cut through a stainless steel sheet with ease. I designed a few door panels and he cut them out for me. Because it was relatively easy to incorporate and produce, I added some organic designs to the panels; everything from blowing prairie grass to bamboo stalks to pussy willow blossoms. I often used black walnut with these pieces as well. I’m seeing a trend here. Again, I’ve written about one of these pieces in our pages. Check out a black walnut and stainless steel sideboard I made with these techniques here.

Pros vs. cons

On one hand, metal can have a cold, sterile look and feel to it, not to mention sharp edges that can be dangerous. But I think metal can offer some fantastic pros, if used carefully. The contrast between wood and metal is attractive. The wood seems to soften the harsh look of the metal with ease. And the feel that metal adds to a piece, whether it’s ultra-smooth or heavily hammered and textured, contrasts well with wood..

Have you ever incorporated metal into your work? Share some photos with me via email. Also feel free to let me know your thoughts about using metal in woodworking projects.