An executive desk must have the durability to service a busy executive who does not have the time or inclination to treat his desk as the prized possession that it is. At jazzyexpo.com, we take into consideration all aspects of the executive's needs in a quality desk.

The top coat used to finish the painting process must have a high hardness rating of at least 2+. This is achieved by using the latest top coats that are made in Italy with the brilliance and clarity that can only enhance the finish. Otherwise, the desktop can be easily scratched by metallic office supplies or briefcases with metal feet.

Drawers often suffer the greatest stress when they are hurriedly opened and closed. The most durable drawer frames are made with solid wood, a rarity in today’s world of material options. To enhance the strength of the drawer frame, a dovetail “finger-grip” type connection should be used at each corner. Dovetail joints are the most admired type of carpentry but are also the most expensive, as they require special machinery to cut the wood, and additional manpower to joint the boards.

There are several controversies about the type of core material that should be used to manufacture the desk that we should clear up right now. The most common type of core material that is used to manufacture desks is particle board. Particle board is inappropriate for an executive desk. Particle board is made by mixing wood chips with formaldehyde resin, a process that results in an inconsistent and soft product, and one that can be very toxic to humans. Formaldehydes contain human carcinogens. Particle board is also easily subject to expansion with an increase in moisture in the air or an accidental spill. Particle boards just do not have the hardness, stability, and strength to properly deal with the weight of a large executive desk or the abuse that an executive can subject the desk to. It is much less expensive to manufacture desks with particle board because the material is much less expensive, and because it is much softer than solid wood or other materials such as MDF – medium density fiberboard. Because of this softness, particle board is much easier to cut and sand into the desired shape. It is also much easier to damage.

Particle board will often swell and sag with an increase in humidity. Solid wood can warp and split with changes in humidity. MDF, which is made with wood fibers compressed with steam and high pressures, is more stable than both wood and particle board making it the best of materials to use for the core of executive desks. However, it is more expensive to manufacture desks with MDF instead of particle board because MDF is not as soft and as easily sanded as particle board.

For these reasons, MDF is the best solution for an executive desk. Although many times more expensive that particle board, medium density fiberboard is three times stronger than particle board, much more impervious to moisture changes, will not sag, warp, swell or split with humidity changes, and provides an excellent surface integrity to develop a superior product. Medium density fiberboard is manufactured by using tiny wood fibers, not wood chips, which are compressed with high temperature steam and great pressure into a denser and stronger product. The glue that is used to hold the MDF fibers together can be made safe for humans by using MDF with a rating of E1A. Only this type of MDF should be used to manufacture a durable and environmentally safe desk for the demanding American Executive.

American desk manufacturers strive to manufacture their executive desks at lower and lower costs to compete with foreign imports that are manufactured by lower cost labor. To accomplish this, the materials and labor going into desks made by American manufacturers continues to be down graded. Although lower cost is not something any customers will object to, the cheaper products are not want the American executives want. They want better appearance, functionality and quality, and they are willing to pay for it. Using plastic laminates instead of the more attractive and natural wood veneers, using particle board cores instead of the stronger and safer MDF, manufacturing the desks to be bland and void of character and boldness instead of designing them to be rich in styling, using lower cost hardware and drawer slides instead of the more expensive quality slides, stapling or nailing the drawer frames joints together or making the drawer frames with particle board instead of using more durable solid wood drawer frames made with dovetail joints, are all not what the American executives want.