Project finished...Finally

[Dave Anderson NH]

I started this Queen Anne Handkerchief table in tiger maple in September 2005 and worked on it until that November. Then because of demands from the toolmaking business, my regular day job, life in general, etc, etc, etc, it lay fallow and untouched until November 2006. I've managed since then to get in small bits of work on it here and there. Today I finally got to rub out the garnet shellac finish and do the final assembly. While there were the usual series of errors and small mistakes, I'm generally pleased and when Sue gets home I expect she'll be happy the last piece for the dining room is finally completed. And now for the orbligatory pictures ending with the wineglass in place, the traditional end to all my projects.

[Dan Forman]

I guess I get to be the first to offer congratulations on a job well done. Beautiful wood, beautiful work.

Dan

[Jim Shaver, Oakville Ont]

Hi Dave,


What can I say, some things are worth waiting for. This incredible wood has been transformed by your hands into am outstanding work.....The legs look perfect......

Well Done!

[Mike Henderson]

Beautiful job, Dave. The wood is terrific and the craftsmanship shows. It was worth waiting for.

Mike

[Mark Stutz]

Dave,
Beautiful, but I always knew it would be! I sort of feel like an uncle watching the kids grow up, since I got to see this in it's infancy and a couple of points along the way!
Again, great job.

Mark

[Andrew Homan]

And now for the orbligatory pictures ending with the wineglass in place, the traditional end to all my projects.

Looks really nice, Dave.
What's next?
-Andy

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hi Andrew, The original plan was to take the triangular cutoffs leftover after cutting the tabletop, resaw them, and do a Chippendale mirror. That's now on hold. Management (Sue) has decided that her sister needs a blanket chest to replace the one her slimey ex-boyfriend stole and took with him when he left. Anyone want to make a wager on what project gets done next??

[John Timberlake]

Great job. Love the wood, the finish, and the design. How big is it?

[Pam Niedermayer]

Beautiful, Dave, exquisite. What did you use to get the feet and knees darkened?

Pam

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hi John, The top is 32" along the diagonal where the leaf drops.

Hi Pam,
The finishing process was:
1. 1 coat of Transtint Dark Mission Brown dye applied and then sanded off main suface.
2. 1 heavy wet coat of Transtint dye- a mix of Honey Amber, Medium Brown, and Reddish Brown
3. Lightly scuff sand whiskers
4. Two heavy coats of Boiled Linseed Oil cut about 30% with Naptha
5. Dry and cure for 2 weeks
6. Many, many many coats of Garnet shellac
7. Rub out with 0000 steel wool and Mahogany Briwax
8. Buff and install
9. Insert wineglass with Chardonnay
The darkness in the knees and on the feet is the normal result of colors penetrating deeper into the end grain on those parts.

[Bruce Page]

Stunning work Dave. I have been looking forward to the finished pictures. Your craftsmanship in both woodworking & finishing are obvious in this piece.

[Ron Brese]

That's a real nice table Dave. The more I work with curly maple the better I like it.

Ron

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Beautifully done Dave!

[Terek Johnson]

I'm curious how many boards you had to glue up for the top. From the pictures, it looks like individual boards for the top components.
Nice stuff.

[Dave Anderson NH]

Unfortunately Terek I wasn't able to make each half of the top out of a single board. The plank I had with decent figure was only 13.5" wide and each half of the top is about 17" from joint to tip. Getting really wide planks (particularly with good figure) is getting harder and harder.