F. A. Q.
Are Lock & Grain products made with real wood?
Yes. We only use real solid hardwood and painted steel parts — nothing else. No MDF, no veneer, no particleboard, no toxic glues, no factory topcoats.
Tops and shelves are 3/4-inch solid hardwood (Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry, or Walnut), milled and sanded in Pennsylvania. Frames are 1/8-inch painted steel flatbar — 1-inch web for Slim and Dart kits, 2-inch web for Square and Puro.
Every piece ships either Unfinished so you choose the finish yourself, or Artisanal, a hand-applied oil treatment done to order in our shop.
I ordered an unfinished option — how do I finish it or protect it?
Four straightforward paths. Pick what fits your life:
A. Hardwax oil (easiest). Wipe on with a rag, wait 15 minutes, buff off excess with a clean rag. One coat finishes an end table in under 20 minutes. Widely available: Rubio Monocoat, Odie's Oil, Osmo Polyx. Re-apply once a year or when water starts to mark.
B. Tung or Danish oil. Wipe or brush on 2–3 thin coats, 12–24 hours between each. Slightly warmer, slightly more work. Waterlox, Formby's Tung Oil, or Watco Danish Oil from any hardware store.
C. Water-based polyurethane. For a harder film and more spill resistance. Brush 2–3 coats, sand lightly (320-grit) between each. Zero-VOC options from Zinsser, General Finishes, or Minwax.
D. Skip the finish altogether. Order a fitted glass or plexiglass top cut to the surface. Any local glass shop can cut one with polished edges for about $1–$3 per square inch. Online: Cut My Plastic, TAP Plastics, or Acrylic Concepts ship to your door. The wood stays raw and breathable; the top is spill-proof and lifts off for cleaning.
How do I pick a stain that matches my other furniture?
Bring stain samples home and test them on the underside of the top panel, in the room where the table will live, next to the piece you are trying to match. Do this in daylight and again under your lamps at night — color shifts dramatically between light sources. A stain that looks right at 11am can read wrong at 7pm.
Two practical tips: pick a stain that leans one shade lighter than your target, since stain darkens with each coat and with age. And do not pick from a swatch card alone — the same stain on Oak and on Hard Maple will produce two noticeably different colors. Only the test on your actual wood in your actual room tells you the truth.
What is the Artisanal finish?
Artisanal is our shop-applied finish — a hand-rubbed, zero-VOC oil treatment done to order on the same Pennsylvania hardwood you'd get in an Unfinished kit. It penetrates the grain, brings out the figure, and leaves a soft matte surface that wears in rather than wears out.
Each Artisanal piece is finished by hand in small batches in our Pennsylvania shop — pick it on any product page when you place your order.
Not sure which to choose? Unfinished lets you control the finish chemistry and color yourself. Artisanal lets us do that part for you, using a finish we stand behind. You can always start Unfinished and apply the same kind of oil at home.
Which wood species should I choose?
Oak. The classic. Open grain, pale-to-golden tone, takes stain predictably.
Hard Maple. Tight, creamy, almost white grain. Loves a clear oil or natural finish.
Cherry. Warm reddish-brown that deepens with age and light. Fine, even grain.
Walnut. Chocolate-brown heartwood with purple undertones. Our premium option.
How is a Lock & Grain piece made?
Four steps from your order to your living room:
01 · Order. You pick the piece, wood species, kit, and finish.
02 · We craft. Our craftspeople cut, sand, and pre-drill every panel in Pennsylvania. The steel frame is painted match-finished to the wood you chose.
03 · Ships flat. Your kit arrives in a single flat-pack, protected in recycled fiber. No freight surprises, no corner damage.
04 · You build. Finish the wood however you like, bolt the steel together. Done in under an hour with an Allen key that's already in the box.
Anything to know when my piece arrives?
Bring the box inside promptly and keep it dry. Don't leave the shipment outside in rain, snow, or direct sun. Once it's indoors, go ahead and unpack.
How does shipping work?
Every piece is made to order in Pennsylvania, so plan on 2–6 weeks from order to door. Larger kits may ship in multiple boxes; we'll email tracking information as soon as your order leaves the shop, and each box ships with the same tracking number so you'll know when to expect all of them.
What tools do I need?
For assembly: the included Allen key — that's it.
For finishing: clean lint-free rags or an old t-shirt cut into strips, a foam brush if you are using poly, nitrile gloves, a tack cloth to wipe dust before you start, and a fine sanding sponge or 220-grit sandpaper for between coats. Open a window for ventilation. Lay a drop cloth or cardboard under your work area. That is the full tool list.
Read all the instructions on any stains and sealants you use — each product has its own handling and disposal guidance worth following.
What's your return policy?
We can't accept returns on completed or partially completed pieces. If your kit arrives damaged or a panel isn't right, we'll replace it free within 30 days of delivery. Email info@lockandgrain.com with your order number.
