| Project by RobS | posted 754 days ago | 639 views | 0 times favorited | 11 comments |  |
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When I found these 3 pieces of wood (click the link for before pictures of the salvaged boards) on the gulf coast of Texas late this summer, I knew they had potential. Even as I hosed the sand from them later that day, I started to speculate on their future. “Perhaps a table”, I thought to myself, noticing that the thick board could easily be milled into 2 inch square legs. The shiplap board could simply become the top, if cross cut into three 24 inch sections which, at over 7 inches wide, would create an almost square surface. The third and final piece, a 1×4, could possibly provide for the rails.
I allowed the pieces to dry and acclimate, lying flat on my garage/shop floor for a couple months and to my surprise, it resulted in minimal warping. Upon milling the largest piece I did notice some worm holes or something of the sort but that did not seem to affect the integrity of the wood’s strength while at the same time adding new character to the piece. By the time I added a couple stretchers and some corner bracing, I had used all of the three pieces of found wood except for a short section of 2×2 left over from the largest piece.
I tend to stick with strictly oil finishes, like tung or teak, but after some thought, and after not being certain about the table’s final resting place (maybe indoor/possibly out) I decided to try a different finish. I applied 3 coats of a 50/50 mix of BLO and spar urethane, sanded with 220 after the first two and steel wool after the last. Then to add some extra protection, went with one more coat of straight spar urethane and used steel wool on that coat to remove some of the sheen.
I built it at standard table height, 29 -1/2 inches, and with a 22” x 24” surface it could host a cozy meal for two or support the battle field for a challenge of chess, checkers, or the like. I am happy with the results and think its even cooler that the boards were saved from the Texas sands of Sargent.
Thanks for looking.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
11 comments so far
Karson
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25811 posts in 1299 days
posted 754 days ago
Great table Rob. Great solution to your wood find.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 965 days
posted 754 days ago
Well done Rob. You have a very nice little table and the real beauty is that it didn’t cost you anything – except time and labor. Good job.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
MsDebbieP
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14181 posts in 1060 days
posted 754 days ago
when I first saw the table, my heart went “pitter patter” ... and then, with the story of its origin, oh yah… love it.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Thos. Angle
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posted 754 days ago
Really nice, Rob.
-- Thos. Angle
frank
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posted 754 days ago
Hello Rob;
—-in-deed as Karson has said and I will second….great table—-beauti-full piece of ‘wood art’, solid construction!!!
And yes, I’m drawn to the colors of character that are found therein the wood. All the time spent finding and then waiting for the time to build, just adds to the ongoing story of one such as this.
The top shows some great color there in picture #3 on the end grain crosscuts of the top….a tinge of red//brown coming out from the wood and set against the backdrop of the darker aprons. Also there’s good color in the yellow twinges on the legs, plus your finish came out fine, I like that….BLO and spar varnish.
By the way, what about those ‘pirate worms’ there in the wood, hoarding some wood treasure?
Thank you for sharing this one.
GODSPEED,
Frank
-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/
CharlieM1958
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7675 posts in 1117 days
posted 753 days ago
Great salvage!
It makes me sick to think of all the wood I could have salvaged after Katrina, but was too busy putting my own house back together to even think about.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Dadoo
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1723 posts in 889 days
posted 753 days ago
I like it!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
TomFran
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2515 posts in 893 days
posted 753 days ago
Nice save, Rob! Great looking table with a nice story behind it.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
RobS
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1243 posts in 1205 days
posted 753 days ago
Thanks for all the great comments everyone, I appreciate it.
Frank, I was surprised with the final coloring too and also the fact that it almost appears antique in some regards.
Charlie, Based on where I found it, it could very well be Katrina remnants. I’ll never know…
Thanks again to all.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
scottb
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3402 posts in 1226 days
posted 753 days ago
Great table….
I wonder how long it’ll be before you find some wood that has some identifying features – part of a desk with a kids name scratched in the surface, part of a home sweet home sign that you could make something with, and actually trace back and gift the original owner.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
RobS
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1243 posts in 1205 days
posted 752 days ago
Thanks Scott, that will be an interesting find for sure..I’ll just have to keep digging…...
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX