How much attention (flat, smooth) do you pay to the underside of a table, of a drawer bottom, a panel that's not gonna be seen?
How much attention (flat, smooth) do you pay to the underside of a table, of a drawer bottom, a panel that's not gonna be seen?
I got cash in my pocket. I got desire in my heart....
I stop when flat, with light cuts with the grain with a jointer. No smoother.
As little as possible. Fore plane marks, spelching, tearout, its all fair game. No reason to get all fancy with it.
Your endgrain is like your bellybutton. Yes, I know you have it. No, I don't want to see it.
If it won't leave splinters in someone, it is done.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
I find that when someone is sitting at a table, they almost always rub the underside of the table top edge, just as much as they rub the top. People always rub the finish, they relish the smoothness and depth.
This was pointed out to me by a long time woodworker a few years back, and I see folks do it whenever I show them a table. Consequently, I finish the underside of the top much like the upper surface, at least as far as the trestle, apron, or whatever, within reach of the hand.
Otherwise, if you can't see it, or feel it, I don't worry about it, other than complimentary finish so nothing warps.
Doug
Shawn
"no trees were harmed in the creation of this message, however some electrons were temporarily inconvenienced."
"I resent having to use my brain to do your thinking"
Future curators might be frustrated with us. They use tool marks,etc. identify makers and glean date from them.
This goes for my work as well. However, I do smooth both sides of a table apron and the top that will lie outside it when assembled. The backside of the aprons is a newer development. I made a table that was not pleasant to lift a couple of years ago (sharp inside corners). Now they are smooth.
OK so have the underside be kindly to the touch, unless its gonna be in a show, then it better be shiny.
If future curator's are looking at my furniture it will only be for a good laugh.
Last edited by Judson Green; 07-02-2014 at 9:15 AM.
I got cash in my pocket. I got desire in my heart....
I'm in the old school 18th century camp like Zach. I leave tool marks on undersides and interiors but at least a couple of coats of finish get applied. I know that it has been proven that properly selected, oriented, and dried wood will not warp with finish on only one side, but I still can't break the habit of partially believing the old saw about finishing both sides to prevent warping.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH
But both you and Zach wouldn't leave splintery mess on the underside of a table, right?
I got cash in my pocket. I got desire in my heart....
I wouldn't because I've never seen a period piece left that way. A small wound from a splinter could cause big problems in a pre-antibiotic world, so you don't see things like that in areas that could easily injure the end user. I don't remember where I heard this, but it makes sense to me.
Last edited by Zach Dillinger; 07-02-2014 at 1:34 PM.
Your endgrain is like your bellybutton. Yes, I know you have it. No, I don't want to see it.
I don't leave any splinters because that is not period workmanship, but rather just poor workmanship. Zach is right about infected wounds in pre-antibiotic days. My maternal G-grandmother Farley died of blood poisoning 5 days after cutting herself with a kitchen knife back around 1900.
Dave Anderson
Chester, NH