Why Turning Leaf?
At Turning Leaf, our primary manufacturing consideration is to provide an item that will last many years. Our secondary consideration is price. We genuinely aim to be as competitive as possible however we will not compromise our high standards for a `quick sale`. We have frequently seen the results of cheaply made furniture and believe the economy to be a false one.
The following guide gives a quick overview to the procedures which we believe are essential in the manufacturing process.
Wood
Our speciality is, without doubt, based in the manufacturing of wood furniture. We ensure that the timber we purchase is of the finest grade available in order for the end product to match not just our expectations but also the expectations of our clients. Additionally, all of our pieces are hand finished rather than machine finished. This ensures that we have complete control over every stage of the manufacturing process.
An example of the care we put into each and every piece is well illustrated by the polishing process. As standard we will use a 2 pack lacquer (rather than a cheaper pre-cat lacquer) and apply the finish to the furniture THREE times. It certainly would be more cost effective and quicker to compromise on this process. However, the final finish is essential to the look and longevity of the item.
Acrylic
The acrylic we use is “cast” acrylic and not “extruded” acrylic. Cast acrylic is recognised as the industry’s leading material due to its longevity and strength. Extruded acrylic is a cheaper and softer alternative which inevitably is easier to scratch and has a poorer finish.
We avoid using a machine to “flame polish” our acrylic lecterns. All of our lecterns are “hand buffed finished” to ensure a high gloss crystal finish without any machine marks. Typically just one acrylic lectern can take up to 6 hours to hand finish. An inferior flame polish finish takes just 40 minutes by machine.
It is our opinion that the use of glue should be avoided on all acrylic work. Although cheaper, glue is not sightly and nor does it give the desired strength. We prefer to use counter sunk allen screws which look much better and give more stability.
Metal
Our metal lecterns are made to the highest of standards and are constructed from either mild steel, stainless steel or aluminium. This versatility in metals gives us excellent opportunities in manufacturing new lecterns and designs for our clients.
All of our metal lecterns include a powder coated finish to give a professional final appearance.
