why are traditional joints are being replaced in commercial production?

Answer 1

I'm not so sure it's a matter or "replacing" traditional joints as much as it's because of an increase in the market share.
There are still many, many fine furniture makers that build furniture to the highest standards. However, such furniture is costly. As such, many other furniture makers have emerged offering less-expensive furniture. They are able to sell their furniture cheaper than high-end quality because they cut corners, either in material or construction techniques. So, I imagine there are furniture makers ranging from particle board, held together with staples, all the way to solid cherry, with dove-tail construction in the drawers. It is a matter of money, in that, one gets what one pays for. If there was no longer a demand for high-end furniture, it would have already disappeared.
The bottom line, it's no different than any other market - supply and demand.

Answer 2

Higher cost and consumers who just don't know any better. There are crafstmen and high end furniture companies that still make good stuff. You will pay extra for real wood with dovetails and other traditional joinery. Good quality furniture will last for a lifetime or more. The particle board junk will last a few years at best. In the long run it pays to buy the good stuff but our throw away society says buy what "looks good" today. In a few years it will be out of style and you get to do it again. Below is a list of some of the better furniture companies. Also support your local craftsmen!

Answer 3

Without adding a lengthy two cents; Raw stated it first; and the others I note; concur.

Tooling; set up/change over time; etc. is a major part of the profit motive. It extends far beyond furniture however...IE: Finger joints on door and window molding; using scrap and piecing it together.

In Most instances it truly makes little difference in the end result. As consumers; or those who believe in Quality as it SEEMS to be... We expect certain things to be.

Obvious to you, and most other consumers; I hope, is that WOOD has been replaced in so many areas; by GLIT...sigh.

We are a global society that has evolved, or perhaps UNevolved into accepting less while paying more.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

it's all a question of tooling! it is very expensive to tool up the commercial machines for the basic joinery of furniture construction. It's cheaper to just cut every edge square, glue it, and clamp it, until the glue dries, the brad it or staple it.

Doing dovetail, for instance, has a different setup for every width change of drawer! Very labor and equipment intensive.

creating blind dados has its challenges, as well. A splined miter joint is too time and material consuming, so they butt the joints, glue and staple them,and hope it doesn't fall apart before the warrenty runs out!!

They will still use finger or box joints, because they are easy to make, and clamp together.

it's a matter of economics. How can they make furniture faster and cheaper, and have a high product turnover!

Answer 5

it's = it is Therefore, "Who was it's founder?" = "Who was it is founder?" Beware the extra apostrophe. I wish that anti-zionism were not such a fringe element of orthodox Judaism. I have even heard that it was more en vogue in the early days, with some Jewish people being openly anti-zionist. Has anyone else heard of this? Also, if any more Jewish people come by, coulld someone tell me whether the injunction against murder in the Torah is specific only to Jewish victims, or whether it refers to the murder of any person, regardless of religion or ehtnicity? Someone tried to tell me this when I attended a pro-Palestinian protest, and I have been curious about whether it is a proper representation of Jewish law or not. Also squared, I am wondering if most Jewish people consider anti-zionism to be the same as anti-Semitism. EDITS: Sister Hope, could you edit your post, please? The asterisk just doesn't cut it. We need to try harder to be respectful, even when we are angry.

Answer 6

Cost.