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Howdy my friends,

I've been working on a major project for a while and attempting a different finishing technique. Well - I'm going to take the finish off for a third time and do it the same way I have every other time. Therefore I offer up the wrestling match in it's place.

This hunk of wood was a really rough short chunk of maple at Rockler. It was badly warped but marked at 1 dollar. I studied the curl near the knot and I could see some magic happening there. I had to get it.

That cross stitch pattern was something I did about 12 years ago when I was very sick for a long time. My wife has been urging me to frame it for years. When it bubbled up to the top of the framing projects, I inspected every hunk of wood I had at least 3 times before I took a serious look at this one. There was exactly enough to make this frame. I thought the cross-stitch and the maple needed to go together somehow.

And Then - I blew it!!!!

Yep I cut the lengths and rabbits (sp?) carefully. I got out my miter jig and focused on what I was doing then cut the very first danged, son of a biscuit eating miter the wrong way against the rabbit!!! GRRRRRR!!!! ;) That is precisely why the left hand side of the main image reveals a very poorly matched glue up.

I may have said that the wood was un-planed and warped? I put most of the sins on the back and bottom side of the frame. Still, the mitered corners are not perfect but they fit pretty well despite trying to guess how I should tweak the table saw blade angle to help close what may have been a much bigger gap. I was shaving 32nd's of a inch off at a time because that all I dared cut. I only had 3/8 inch to play with on the total length of the wood.

And yet.. this is my favorite frame despite the patched up side and the in-precise miters. I have stared at the wood figuring for hours and played the light against the curl to watch the wood transform like a precious Gem. I'll learn to laugh at my reversed miter cut and I'll tell the story how I refused to let this hunk of wood fuel the fireplace.

Finishing Specifics.
Sanded at 60, 80, 150, 220 and 320.
Raised the grain after 150 and 320 with water.
Hand rubbed with tung oil three times then hand rubbed once again 24 hours after the last application.
2 coats of General Finishes oil and urethane topcoat/clear gloss.
Scuffed with 220 grit between those coats and 320 after the second.
Final coat is General Finishes oil and urethane topcoat/ clear satin.

I'll try to have my next major project done in a week. Heck, the redo's on the finish have allowed me to get another major project well under way.

Thanks for reading and I apologize for being absent from Lumberjocks. All I can say is life happens. I know you all understand. I'll catch up on your projects soon. I can use the inspiration. ;)

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
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Mark,

That cross stitch looks like quite an accomplishment. (Maybe I should send you my unfinished cross stitch picture that I can no longer see to do. It's on linen cloth and has a gazillion colors.)

It's good to see that you finally framed it. It will be quite a keepsake for one of your heirs. Nice job!

L/W
 

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Now that's "Purdy"!
 

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Well done Mark!
 

· Registered
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She came our real nice after all that. You'll remember making that frame!!
Nice cross stitching job, too!!

Jim
 

· Registered
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Boy Howdy,
With every Project you break the mold.

Your Lumber selection;
"This hunk of wood was a really rough short chunk of maple at Rockler. It was badly warped but marked at 1 dollar. I studied the curl near the knot and I could see some magic happening there. I had to get it."

...and turned it into a Great accent.

Your Finish selection;
"Well - I'm going to take the finish off for a third time and do it the same way I have every other time."

...and it looks Great.

Albert Einstein once said;
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

...but this time he was mistaken.

Best Regards.
Work Safely and have Fun. - Len
 

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The wood itself with those knots looks great. I personaly prefer wood with knots, I don't like to cut them of or hide anyhow.
 

· In Loving Memory
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Hmmm…Miter cut backwards. I feel that you are impinging on an area that I thought was my exclusive domain Mark. luckily the frame came out great anyway and I love your cross stitch work too. The Norwegians, including my wife, used to do a lot of that, but I haven't seen much around lately.
 

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Howdy my friends!

Thank you all for the kind comments.

Len, The finish on this one went easily. It's a different project that I keep trying to finish with a different technique. I'm going back to the one that has worked for me in the past. Einstein is still right. ;) Heaven forbid he should ever make a mistake.

L/W I am so retired from anything cross stitch related. Talk about tedious. Whew!!! I'm sorry your eyesight wont let you do it anymore. I guess we get to see your awesome woodworking skills instead.

Ivan - I'm finding that the best figuring is next to the knots. I'm becoming a fan.

Mike, Thanks for the reassurance. I'll keep that in mind when I reverse the miter cut AGAIN.. and AGAIN…. I learned something about the Norwegians today. They are incredibly patient people.
 

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Excelent job!!!! You are way to hard on yourself buddy. I recently got a chance to visit the Woodcraft store in Franklin (outside Nashville)and they had a free wood bin set up out front….if I hadn't been in my wife's car (yes, I am afraid of her) some of it would have come home with me…lol wasn't anything as cool as your dollar hunk but not too shabby. Anyone close to there probably knows but they should stop in.
.nice folks!!!!
 

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Howdy Buster,

Thanks for the the kind words my friend. You know, I wonder if I am too hard on myself. It could be but then again I may just be a simple man. I don't really get upset at myself and I'm really forgiving of my flaws. I have to be that way. ;)
 
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