Purchased a walnut dining table and chair set. This was represented as high end Amish made. The finish is supposed to be conversion varnish. The sales people all sell the durability of the finish. It just so happens I am very familiar with conversion varnish as I have sold coatings for 26 years including conversion varnishes to large kitchen cabinet shops.
It took 3 times to get what we ordered delivered correctly. The first table when we removed the leaves did not come together without leaving a ridge where the leaves were. The second table delivered was not ordered with the correct edge on it. When the third table was ordered we requested no sap wood as the 2nd table looked nothing like the first one we selected. We were told we could specify with no sap wood although that would be an additional $200 which we paid. Also the chairs delivered looked like a patch work quilt with great variations at glue joint of sap wood to dark wood. We had discussed this with our sales person at the time and he assured us he ordered this set frequently and we could swap out for chairs with the least amount of variation at glue joints. (I understand this is wood and variations are part of the beauty). This was simply poor workmanship. I am also a woodworker.
The whole process above took well over a year with constant calls back and forth always us initiating the calls. Finally when we received the third table it too did not come together perfectly and there is a ridge where the table comes together and where leaves are inserted. We were tired and accepted it. My wife has kept a table cloth on the table for about a year and recently decided to begin using placemats to show the beauty of the wood. I noticed an ink mark from a pen about 1/4" long. Knowing conversion varnish should not be affected by alcohol I used Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol 70% strength) and a cotton ball to remove the ink mark. This removed the finish. I tried the same rubbing alcohol on 2 other pieces of wood. One that has Sherwin Williams conversion varnish on it and one with Chemcraft. Both left no visable mark. I even tried the same rubbing alcohol on some woodwork that I had recently applied a standard Sherwin Williams polyurethane varnish which was also not affected - no visable effect.
I called and spoke to Ray who stated he was one of the owners. He immediately said I should not have used the rubbing alcohol. I wanted to know what specific finish his supplier was using. He said he was going to call the Amish in Indianna who made the table and have them call me. I asked if we determined the finish was not conversion varnish if he would take back the table and chairs and refund our money. His exact words were "That's not goin to happen!"
I have yet to hear from his supplier not that it makes any difference. I now have a $3500 table and chair set purchased new that I guess I am either going to have to have refinished properly or take them to small claims court.
Welcome Amish Furniture Reviews
Purchased a walnut dining table and chair set. This was represented as high end Amish made. The finish is supposed to be conversion varnish. The sales people all sell the durability of the finish. It just so happens I am very familiar with conversion varnish as I have sold coatings for 26 years including conversion varnishes to large kitchen cabinet shops.
It took 3 times to get what we ordered delivered correctly. The first table when we removed the leaves did not come together without leaving a ridge where the leaves were. The second table delivered was not ordered with the correct edge on it. When the third table was ordered we requested no sap wood as the 2nd table looked nothing like the first one we selected. We were told we could specify with no sap wood although that would be an additional $200 which we paid. Also the chairs delivered looked like a patch work quilt with great variations at glue joint of sap wood to dark wood. We had discussed this with our sales person at the time and he assured us he ordered this set frequently and we could swap out for chairs with the least amount of variation at glue joints. (I understand this is wood and variations are part of the beauty). This was simply poor workmanship. I am also a woodworker.
The whole process above took well over a year with constant calls back and forth always us initiating the calls. Finally when we received the third table it too did not come together perfectly and there is a ridge where the table comes together and where leaves are inserted. We were tired and accepted it. My wife has kept a table cloth on the table for about a year and recently decided to begin using placemats to show the beauty of the wood. I noticed an ink mark from a pen about 1/4" long. Knowing conversion varnish should not be affected by alcohol I used Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol 70% strength) and a cotton ball to remove the ink mark. This removed the finish. I tried the same rubbing alcohol on 2 other pieces of wood. One that has Sherwin Williams conversion varnish on it and one with Chemcraft. Both left no visable mark. I even tried the same rubbing alcohol on some woodwork that I had recently applied a standard Sherwin Williams polyurethane varnish which was also not affected - no visable effect.
I called and spoke to Ray who stated he was one of the owners. He immediately said I should not have used the rubbing alcohol. I wanted to know what specific finish his supplier was using. He said he was going to call the Amish in Indianna who made the table and have them call me. I asked if we determined the finish was not conversion varnish if he would take back the table and chairs and refund our money. His exact words were "That's not goin to happen!"
I have yet to hear from his supplier not that it makes any difference. I now have a $3500 table and chair set purchased new that I guess I am either going to have to have refinished properly or take them to small claims court.