Arts & Crafts Prairie Couch

Mark—-
That is an awesome heavy-duty sofa. The carving looks great, and compliments the Prairie look and thru tenons nicely. I agree that a lacquer finish can be nerve wracking, especially in the winter when you try to heat up the shop enough to spray. have you tried any of the water based products? i have had good success with Resisthane that I get from Highland Hardware Co.
Sawdust

Thanks Tennessee Sawdust:
I have been using only Deft Semi-Gloss Lacquer for a few years now, and there are problems with it, mainly the smell and shop explosion worries. I have solved these with the explosion proof fan, and the small spray booth.

I have not tried the Resisthane, thanks for suggesting it.

The main reasons I like Deft Lacquer is that I can put on about 15-20 coats in one day, and only lightly sand right before the last coat. After I put on the next to last coat, I go over everything with a sanding sponge, then shopvac with a brush attachment everything, all the nooks and crannies. Then one more light coating of spray, and I’m done. What is left is a buttery feeling, smooth, blemish-free, run-free finish.

The other main reason is the ability to touch up dents, scratches, and flaws in the wood/finish, and such.

It also makes refinishing very easy. I finished a set of Morris Chairs before the Prairie Couch for the same customer, and their dog liked to jump up on the chair and bark out the window, scratching up the arms of the Morris Chair. The customer was devastated after such an investment.

I was able to lightly sponge block sand the scratched arms, and spray another coat of Lacquer on. The new coat just wonderfully melted into the older layers, and turned out a smooth original looking finish.

Can’t do that with Polyurethanes, Urethanes, or Oils.

During the winter once I tried Tung Oil, another time I tried Deft Oil. Both took several days to complete the finish.

I had horrible event with Polyurethane one time, sanding it all back off and starting over.

It seems that anything that thins with Paint Thinner gets runs and drips very easy for me (probably my poor techniques), especially with something like a Mission piece with lots of slats and corners.

The Deft Lacquer never runs or drips on me, I have learned exactly how much to shoot on, and then stop before it drips.

I have not tried any of the water based finishes, although I have thought about it at times, but it is hard for me to leave what I have become so good with using.

I’ll do some reading on the Resisthane you suggested and see what I think.

I make no money for my words about Deft, in fact they charge me full price for their products, ha.

thanks for your kind words and suggestion,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan

A lovely project, Mark. I love A+C stuff, and this is great. The oak has wonderful figuring.
Hope the client is enjoying this one!
Keep up the good work,
Phil

Thanks Philip: coming from England, you probably get a chance to see the real Arts & Crafts. That term has been so modified by greedy salesman and advertising catalogs over the years, that is really has no meaning in America today. People get confused on what is “Mission”, what is “Craftsman”, what is “Prairie”, and what is actually “Arts & Crafts”. I use the term Arts & Crafts to describe my work, as it is carving decorated objects, made in a small, self-employed, one-man shop. What really gets me frustrated is when I read how people confuse the whole “Stickley” name. Gustav Stickley would roll over in his grave if he heard how today that his two brothers that stole his designs and copied his work, and sent him into bankruptcy, were talked about with as much gusto as people talk about Gustav. I wrote some of this up on my website articles section from some old articles and reference books I read while studying to build the large commission of Arts & Crafts furniture I did for a customer.

Thanks for your comments.

I am trying to talk my sister into letting me build her a Greene & Greene round table for her dining room. She wants a piece of functional art, with inlay, and something she says, “you wouldn’t dream of putting a table cloth on”, and “something people notice the first time they walk into my dining room, and say wow!”

Thanks for sharing your G&G work with the rest of us.

Your Kansas buddy,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan

Awesome quartersawn oak. The quality and craftsmanship speak for themselves. Very nice work!

-- Ellen -- www.goodadvertising.com/woodwork

Thanks Ellen:
This wood was extraordinary. The arms of this couch are as nicely figured as any quartersawn white oak I have ever seen on any piece of furniture, or in a book. After sifting through more than 3000 bdft of wood looking for spectacular grain for the arms, I picked out this board. What makes it even better on the arms, is that the same board runs all the way around the “u” shape, making sure that grain and color matches. Pictures just don’t do it justice, only God can make wood like that.

thanks for your comments, your sculpting work is quite motivating. I looked at your website. Please take a moment some time and describe the inspriations and thoughts you go through as you conceive of the idea and work it to completion in your work.

Your work will be prized by the owners long after your life here is over, and it will be important to document these thoughts for others to enjoy and understand, if you haven’t already done that.

If you haven’t seen his work before, I put a link to J. Christopher White’s website. Your work reminds me of his work. I was alerted to his abilities from a bronze sculptor in San Antonio that I am friends with, and then I asked for White’s book “Parables” for Christmas last year. The book is wonderful, and full of motivation if you haven’t seen it before.
http://www.jchristopherwhite.com

thanks again,
Mark DeCou (P)
www.decoustudio.com

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan

A great work of art. I have never had much taste for Mission, Arts & crafts furniture, but there’s something about your work that seems more eye appealing. I guess it’s the carving that adds the touch that made my mouth water. I checked out your website, & you have some terrific things to look at. I think you’ll be on the list of top furniture makers, if not now, in the near future.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

all i can say mark is wow. nice work. you can make me one any time you want.

oak is hard to carve. but you did a great job on it.

the man is lucky to have found a good craftsman to make it for him

-- pat,ohio...http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y198/patshwigar/

This is one great piece of art work. Wonderful woodworkings.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Mark, you posted this one exactly a year ago.

Wow!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

Do the shuffle….

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Back to the woodworking song post…..

“Do the shuffle” sung to the melody of “do the hustle”

Mark,

In general I am in awe of your work. I would love to own one of your canes one day. May have to break a leg or something so I have a true need.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Exactly! WOW! Fantastic! I love it.
I have dreams of building Stickley furniture for my home. QS White Oak is really a beautiful wood. I have not seen an example such as your creation with all the carving. That really is well done! By the way, where did you get the upholstery done? Did you do that too or did you find someone to custom make the cushions?

-- RonR, Massachusetts

Well, Mark, I don’t know what to say. I spent my lunchhour showing my father your projects. Always impressive in both workmanship, design, presentation and the underlying story. Thanks. One could get lost in viewing the work that you do.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Awesome carvings, craftsmanship and it leaves me speachless. Excellent!

-- Jesus is Lord!

Love this piece! It’s how I found this fantastic site.

Great job!

THanks for the post

Callum

-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/