Third Project Ever - Mission Plant Stands

Great idea!

If there is anything wrong with the finish, it doesn’t show in the photos. Oak, by its nature, is going to soak up a lot of stain in the grainy areas and give you a high contrast two-tone appearance. That is just the nature of the wood…. nothing wrong with your technique.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Excuse me what means QSRO? I’ve tried to find on the net without result :(

thanks in advance.

-- ciao h.

QSRO means quarter sawn red oak. I’m guessing that you finished the piece with stain and not dye or fuming. It seems like stain tends to create two tone finishes that obscure the medullary rays in QSRO or QSWO. I’m having the same problem in my first big piece, a mission sideboard. While the finish doesn’t look that bad, it doesn’t have the same “pop” that fuming or dyeing produces. I just look at it as a learning experience. That being said, just like CharlieM1958 said, your pieces look great and should be really great plant stands.

I suspect that you didn’t use a sealer before staining. AND see sec.m1958. I think you design is great especially if you winged it. I suggest that you take plenty of pictures and put then in a notebook or folder with dimentions, thoughts you may have etc. Should you wish to duplicate them in 5-10 years you have all the data you need. With this design I can easily see than happening.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

Those are really nice. Especially for your third project.

Great job and thanks for posting them.

-- Martin, Kansas

Nice for a 13th project!

Great work.

-- - Don't Panic!

Nice plant stands.

-- Dustygirl...Hastings,Ontario

does sealing oak before staining preserve the medullary rays?

Nice design. I would recommend white oak for a true Arts and Crafts look. The majority of original/ antique/ turn of the last century designs were rendered in quartersawn white oak. I have personally never seen a red oak piece that achieves the same aesthetic. With white oak, even a simple danish oil finish will bring out the rays.

I advise you to figure out your finish before starting the project. Make sample boards and record the finishing schedule. This makes the finishing something to look forward to. Also helps to prevent shop full of unfinished projects.

Keep up the good work.

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne