The California sun shines on you with a ferocity that makes you feel like a dried up prune. Since dawn, you have been "panning" along the stream. You fill the shallow pan with a scoop of gravel and sand from the bank, and then dip the container into the waterway. Then, you begin shaking the pan. Suddenly, something catches your eye. You spot a tiny gold bit glistening in the water. You look again and realize that several bits like that are floating in the pan. After standing up and doing your ceremonial dance of joy, you think about all the things you can buy with your newfound wealth. But there is one problem. You were not aware that gold, unlike other substances, quickly sinks to the bottom of a pan. This is due to its greater density. You have found pieces of "fool's gold." So, how to avoid being stuck with furniture that is fool's gold? When buying a product, such as wood bar stools, make sure that the materials are genuine.



Fool's Gold Has a Name

We have all heard of the expression "fool's gold." But what is it? "Fool's gold" is actually the nickname given to a mineral called pyrite. Pyrite looks like metal, and has a brass yellow color, with a dark strip. While gold is soft and can be cut smoothly, pyrite is hard and weak. Pyrite represents a trend in today's society, in which imitation materials and products are becoming more common. There is imitation leather, imitation gemstones, and even imitation crabmeat! You can also get "knock-off" shoes, clothes and electronics off the street. Though the quality of these products is inferior to the real ones, they are cheaper and easier to produce. When shopping for products such as wood bar stools, buy ones made of genuine materials.

Fake Can Be Dangerous

So, what is the problem with buying knock-offs or products made with imitation materials? In a word: quality. Recently, it was discovered that fake construction materials were included in several kilometres of China's newest high-speed railway. The supplies that crooked suppliers forked out could cause the railway's concrete supports to crack, endangering the lives of commuters. Contractors of the railway had been tricked into buying huge amounts of fake or inferior coal fly ash--frequently one of the components used in concrete. What makes the situation even more complicated is that fake fly ash looks like the real thing, and only lab tests can distinguish the two. Likewise, be cautious when buying wood bar stools. In the same way that not all men are born equal, not all wood bar stools are equal. Some are not made of real wood, but wood filings. So, in purchasing wood bar stools, be sure to purchase products made of genuine wood.

Wood Is Good

The simplicity of creating imitation-wood products has made it popular. How simple is the process? Painfully so. Consider:

* A layer of glue is added to the material that will simulate wood.

* A coat of lacquer colored like wood is then added to the glue layer.

* Finally, a protective layer is brushed on.

While these products are cheap to construct, they are inferior to real wood. Wood has been used since humans have been building structures, such as boats and houses. In fact, all boats were built of wood until the late 19th century. The material is also used to construct many wood bar stools. Wood types such as beech not only ensure that your wood bar stools look attractive, they also guarantee your wood bar stools will not collapse when you sit on them for the second time.

Today's products tend to focus on the goal of cost-effectiveness. But never forget the meaningful lyrics of one famous song: "Ain't nothing like the real thing, Baby." Accept no imitation and choose wood bar stools.