Slant Top Tiger Maple Desk #2: Applying First Coats of Finish

Tony,

Could you ask Mark the following questions? The 70:30 mix is that like a 1 pound cut or 2 pound cut? Does he start with flakes or premixed? Did he use Amber or Orange shellac? Would an Airbrush work for small projects instead of a full HVLP system? I have several curly maple boxes in progress right now and just trying to look at my options.

Thanks Michael

-- Computer programmer by day, fine woodworker by night. Custom made joysticks for Console Systems and Personal Computers.

Nice post, Tommy. It was informative and on target.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Great and informative video. I’ll have to check you out on ITunes via my Apple TV. Thanks for sharing.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

Thanks Tommy. I haven’t tried any spray finishes yet, but maybe someday.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

very nice! i love spraying, it leaves such a nice finish and is so more versatile and easy.

Boy, is that tiger maple grain popping with that finish. Good vid Tommy.

-- Rich in Richmond

Tom,
Great video. Better looking piece of furniture.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

I don’t have any way to spray, but damn that looks nice Tommy. Loving that tiger maple!

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

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-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Tommy: I’m confused you talked about 70:30 as being thin and then 50:50 as being thicker and then he stated 60:40 as being thicker still.

So I’m thinking that the either the 70:30 or 60:40 is reversed.

I am wondering if you meant 30% finish and 70% alcohol as being a 30:70 mix and the 60:40 as being 60% finish and 40% alcohol. But it would also mean more if you stated what was the lb cut of the finish that you are thinning.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

yup you .got it….we got it backwards…...we will be showing a brief look at padding the shellac on video 3…as well as the wax and all that…

-- For free woodworking video tutorials and contests, check out Woodworking with Thomas MacDonald & Friends at http://www.mlwwoodworking.com/index.html

Hey, I thought you were going to show how to do this without a sprayer as well?

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

Looking Good Thomas, Keep up the great work, Just like all the rest of your furniture it is top notch and all about the wood and its beauty.

Justin

Thanks for the great information. Keep up the good work! I need to learn about this finishing stuff.

-- Rich, Seattle, WA

I see Mark using his sprayer without wearing a mask. Is that a safe practice?

-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker

Praki, i noticed that too. it’s not a very safe practice. you should always wear a mask when spraying. i want to say that this is shellac so its edible so you are fine as well as with water based DYES not so much of a problem. but any solvent like lacquer. a waterbased finish like water based poly, or wb stains. and most of all catalyzed products. the catalist will burn your lungs in an instant. very, very, very dangerous. so it is a very good habit to get into to always wear a repsirator. a good quality respirator

I agree but mark is a big boy and responsible for his own saftey…. Just like the rest of us …. It’s all about good work habits , saftey glasses, hearing protection, masks, clean safe conditions… These are all things that should be done all the time … But you all know how it goes… believe me it was tough enough to get mark in front of a camera… And he did quit the smokes after 20 plus years …

-- For free woodworking video tutorials and contests, check out Woodworking with Thomas MacDonald & Friends at http://www.mlwwoodworking.com/index.html

Thanks for posting, looking forward to vid 3.

- Rob

I was really surprised, having come from a hobby background originally, just how “unsafe” many pros work. I say “unsafe” because we all have different opinions about what is safe enough in our own shops. And the reality is that many pros who’ve been doing this for years do some things that would make a hobbyist’s head spin. Like Tommy says, he’s a big boy and makes his own decisions. But normally, he doesn’t have a few thousand hobbyists watching him do his work. ;)

And Denis, just an FYI, although shellac itself is technically edible, denatured alcohol is definitely NOT. Read the MSDS on denatured alcohol if you want a good scare some day, lol. Keep in mind that something that isn’t too big of a deal on our workbench in liquid form, can become something all together different once its atomized, in the air, and subsequently in our lungs.

That maple is on FIRE Tommy. Very nice!

-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com

mark…unless you are prepared form me to critique your show in a public forum i suggest you check your motives before you decide to chime in on mine….we have all seen you do some “not so safe things as well”....

but thanks!

and i think your t v stand on fine woodworking was awesome!

-- For free woodworking video tutorials and contests, check out Woodworking with Thomas MacDonald & Friends at http://www.mlwwoodworking.com/index.html

I must confess that often pros do things that seem unsafe, but in this case what i noticed is that Mark, is spraying in a very open area, and if you noticed he had his gun adjusted to create virtually no overspray and was using very light/thin passes, all of which, shows a lot of experience on his behalf, and as well doesnt create a real unsafe environment…something those with less experience can learn from, while I would agree a good respirator Should be used, its one of those things we sometimes just dont think about ,( but should), because we know how to control our situation , so to answer the question if it was a good idea for him to spray with out a mask, No , but his experience did afford him the ability to protect himself more than what was percieved.
I think these guys are doing woodworking a tremendous service , and i know the time and effort it takes to get these videos out, and I for one am really thankful to see this caliber of talent and experience being shared, few with this level of knowledge would bother…Thanks Guys…a job well done

You know, I read and re-read my comments several times trying to figure out what would cause you to go on the defensive. Several other people pointed out the respirator issue, not me. I was just giving some support to what you yourself said, that mark is a big boy and is responsible for his own health.

And as someone who has dealt with the repercussions of doing something unsafe, and having a bunch of people tell me about it, I understand what its like to deal with that. Many things that I deem to be safe enough for my shop, are not safe enough for my show.

But I suppose if you are already on the defensive before I even write a single comment, you might read things differently. You are always welcome to chime in on my shows if you want. But I hope you realize that we are both far better being “friends” in this community than “enemies”.

-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com

ya i agree. if we didn’t point out others mistakes then people would get hurt. we’re not criticizing anyone just saying even if he’s not wearing a respirator its his choice but its always a good idea to put up a little red flag saying you should wear a respirator. i have been criticized before for doing unsafe things too and thats a good thing because i would rather take it then have someone try to copy me and end up getting hurt. so if you see anyone, me marc or anyone else doing something unsafe just comment on it and say thats unsafe. everyones better off because of it.

I follow quite a few of the pros and not so pros that have podcasts including the ones that have chimed in here. Tommy, Marc, Neil & TWW, I feel that we are all better served by working together instead of looking on each other as competitors. Making comments on each others’ work should be done in a constructive manner which I feel has been done here by all parties. I would like to see more of this kind of interaction as it is also informative to the average guy puttering around in his shop.

Keep up the good work everyone and I’m looking forward to seeing more.

Michael

-- Computer programmer by day, fine woodworker by night. Custom made joysticks for Console Systems and Personal Computers.

its funny… i have been on the net for almost a year i have over 3 thousand minutes of content i built a piece that cost me 80 grand and now sits in a museum i built a great forum with some wicked talented woodworkers and designers, provided 3 build along projects that dont cost a dime, i have over 1 million page views in 6months and not once have i ever gotten a positive comment by the wood whisperer….in fact its been quite the opposite..i dont have a single sponsor i dont push any tools i dont use as a furniture maker….i dont pretend to speak for the masses i just build…thats it….i dont tell anybody what to do or how to do it….i am pretty sure after looking at the work around here you all know what you are doing …are smart enough to take care of yourselves….i didnt think i needed to point out the obvious..my show is not a how 2 .. the page says lumber jocks….not hobbie town….i know whoever decides to woodwork, at any level or style has an approach that is just as intense as mine….i am all for a guy pointing out things that should or could be done in a woodworking shop…i am not defensive ..i just dont pee down my neck and tell me it raining….

-- For free woodworking video tutorials and contests, check out Woodworking with Thomas MacDonald & Friends at http://www.mlwwoodworking.com/index.html

Keep doin your thing Tommy!! I’ve been hooked on your stuff and love the approach, upfront, real, informative, elevatin my game. Your stuff helps me, that’s all I care about.

-- Every cloud has a silver lining

Whoa! Must be Christmas day after blues… You guys are killing me.

Seriously Tommy, you do awesome work and we should be glad you even take the time to contribute here on Lumberjocks. People usually have to buy books and dvd’s to get the information you generously share so don’t let the original poster who raised the safety question Praki or the wood podcast guy hijack your helpful posts. Just keep posting the good content and helpful stuff and avoid letting armchair quarterbacks get you into the weeds.

Plus if anyone has seen your various projects on your forum, they’d be glued to their computer screen trying to learn everything they could about finishing from your guy Mark instead of picking apart your video. I know I’ll be watching that video over and over to learn and digest all his tips. His finishing skills are top notch and your work is impressive partly because of the wonderful finishing.

Frankly, I doubt you have much in common with other podcasters except perhaps Charles Neil. You guys make furniture and the rest of the podcasters make mostly weekend projects with sheet goods. Anyone who has seen your podcast videos knows you’re the real deal. I hope you had a great Christmas and keep up the good work buddy!

Wow…first of all the piece of furniture looks amazing! Great build Tommy, no one can say any different about it!

But man, this whole discussion took a nose dive faster than the stock market. Let’s not forget the whole purpose of LumberJocks is to share with each other our projects and experiences. To ask questions and make suggestions so we can all do one thing…make ourselves better woodworkers!!

Again, let me emphasize it’s a beautiful piece of furniture and watching Mark the finisher do his job is pretty dam sweet. But when someone asks a legitimate question about a safety issue they’re concerned with it’s our responsibility as fellow members to help explain it in a way that answers that concern. Tommy did do that and so did a few others. I don’t see where Marc’s response was any different. Since when is there only one correct response to such a basic question and when did adding a little perspective to help reinforce it, become a bad thing?

Why don’t we get back to what LumberJocks is meant for and drop this whole thing before it gets more personal than it has to be?

Great piece of work Tommy thanks for sharing. Thanks for raising an important question Praki. And thanks Marc for adding just a little perspective to the answer also.

-- Straight grains & sharp blades

Okay, the alpha males must return to their own corners. Marc & Tommy, you both do great things with what you do! Many things are alike but the main area of approaches are so different. I’ve personally learned so much from both of you. And attempt to apply that to which I learn into my own weird wood working world.

We are so lucky to have you both and a few others that are so good in their area of interest on the board. I know that every once in a while the two big dogs are going to cross paths… I’d just rather see it done with heads held high with respect and not some bitter boil over of cabbage stew.

Signed – LumberJock Chaplain (self appointed)
-Kerux

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

Tommy,

With all due respect, the guys chiming in about applying a finish with an HVLP gun without a respirator needed to be addressed. When I first watched your podcast, I thought maybe he was spraying a water based finish, but turns out it was shellac. I thought to myself, well its Tommy and he knows what he is doing so it must be safe to spray shellac without a respirator. I can almost guarantee you that 60-70% of the people that saw that thought the same thing. That’s because there is nobody here on Lumberjocks that I have seen are on your level. You would be surprised to learn how many people will try to mimick you in every way. We would all love to make the things you do, but the reality of it is, that we probably won’t. Maybe in the future when there is something unsafe being done on your podcast, you could let me know. (Just like you did when you raised the blade on the tablesaw instead of dropping the white oak directly on the blade while making the blanket chest)

I would also just like to let you know that you have obviously been given God given talent that is unbelievable. But with that talent comes great responsibility. The are many people out there including me that just can’t handle the arrogance that you project. I consider you work to be the top of the scale along with some of the greats. But ask yourself, would Garrett Hack, David Marks, Sam Maloof, Michael Fortune, Frank Klauz or Marc Adams react to this situation like you have? You don’t need to be defensive about anything. You are in a situation that most of us dream about. Spending 80K on a project is something most of us have done. Our project was a house! I have seen your shop and I have seen the Sawstop, two jointers, Powermatic mortisers, a multirouter, big planer and the list goes on. To afford that gear the rest of us need sponsorship or we go without. Some make a living in a different way which does not make it wrong.

I knew Marc before he even had a podcast and I even called him and he helped me with selecting wood for a project. He is always willing to help out. I email him all the time with dumb questions and he always responds to help. But what you have to realize is he is trying to run a business and support his family. There is nothing wrong with that. We all have different routes to arrive at the same place.

You have the right to tell me to go stick it, and thats fine, you are entitled to do that and thats ok. But at least take what I have said into consideration. I would like to see you make it to the next level and be in the same category as the earlier mentioned greats. Maybe you could get with Marc and Nicole and they could help you with your podcast and take it to the next level. They are amazing when it comes to podcasting.

With all due respect,

Jeff Jackson

-- Jeff, Indiana

Who cares if he wears a mask or not, I nor anyone else here, is his care taker or responsible for his actions. Free information is just that, free. Watch, enjoy, learn and if something don’t look safe to you, do it your own way.

As far as getting help with the podcast, I am sure anyone with the backing to fund an 80K piece can afford to get help with podcasting. Personally I enjoy the show as-is, isn’t it called the “rough cut show”. Spend time behind the saw,cutting wood, not the computer monitor cutting footage. JMHO

Keep up the good work guy. Its the ones who can’t that try to keep you down.

-- http://www.efcabineture.com/ You can be tired, or you can be broke, but you should never be tired and broke.

Tommy –

Thank you for an excellent post! I have been a fan ever since your first podcast “The Bev Cuts Dovetails with His Teeth” and 152 episodes later my loyalty is still going strong. I greatly appreciate the high level of your work. You have a true gift. More importantly your passion for woodworking and desire to share and teach thru The Rough Cut Show has benefited many woodworkers. It is with great pleasure that I see you now contributing to Lumberjocks and other woodworking forums.

You made groundbreaking “cyber” advancement with the first Internet woodworking classroom building the “Crazy Leg Federal Table”, “The Pilgrim’s Blanket Chest” and “The Shaker Step Stool” projects. This cluster of three projects presented an excellent opportunity to learn and explore a set of woodworking skills that every woodworker can apply to future projects.

I agree with Charles Neil that the safety issue here was really more of a matter of perception and expertise. Without a doubt, a respirator is always a correct idea. I applaud Charles Neil for his calm voice of reason.

Few will appreciate the huge amount of work that goes into making one of your podcast episodes. By that, I mean have an understanding of the amount of time it takes to not only do the woodwork but also the hassle of producing the video footage, editing and production work to post the content. There are few with your level of skill and expertise that are willing to share to your degree.

You have made an impact on appreciation for furniture and furniture building. Please do not let any negative comments dissuade you from continued posting and sharing of your fine craftsmanship.

Best Regards,
David

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com