365 Create: Day 14

Day 14 post –

A table I made a while back. Its ok though, I never ended up posting it on my website. The table was pretty fun working on.

wooden coffee table

The legs for the table was by far the most challenging part as I don’t have a lathe any more. Ended up making the legs with a big Craftsmen drill and some sheet metal.

solid wooden table top

…side note – Had a lathe but it was super scary. Ended up getting rid of it!

365 Create: Day 11

Day 11 –

This is a habitat I whipped up today for my pet centipede. As in, now he has officially become my pet.

centipede habitat

I caught him in my garage about 2 1/2 months ago. He’s been living in the jar I originally caught him in. Ever so often I’ll give him some fresh grass and water and he’s a trooper.

centipede habitat

So now he has a new home.

Threw this together with maple, plexi-glass, and five-minute epoxy.

365 Create: day 7

For Day 7 I’m using a furniture repair I just got done with for a customer. Its an Ethan Allen table.

TABLE_small

Not so much creativity going on in this piece, more duplicating to match. Its not my favorite kinda shop time although every repair done I learn a new trick or two. (Side note: this table originally came to my shop eight months ago for a repair. Click here to see those repairs.)

table - chewed

The table owner’s dog ate one corner off.
Now the table was back due to the same dog chewing a different corner up.

The trick I learned on this project was because of the problem with the natural ambering (turning orangeish) that happens over time.

table - parts

Trying to instantly amber a fresh piece to match took some creative problem solving.

table - biscuit

To amber wood is to condition the wood after assembly before staining with red and yellow food coloring. Instantly the wood turns orange.

table - orange

Next apply the stain that best matches the pieces in question. Once the stain is applied the shocking orange is gone and the perfect amber shows up with the stain color blended in on top to match.

table - done

On these kinds of repairs, the staining and finishing is often harder than the woodwork aspect.

And that’s Tony’s tips!