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Of Curvy Legs and Underwater Wood......

Project by Ryan Shervill posted 592 days ago 2335 views 20 times favorited 31 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Hello all, with the recent discussions on curved legs and floating tops, I thought I’d share some pics of a piece I did I while back. This table was built for a woodworking competition a couple of years ago, and I just haven’t been able to bring myself to part with it since then….either that or I just havent been offered enough $$ :)

It’s built in my signature style, and made of “Wet Wood”, Virgin Old-growth timber that was logged about 165 years ago during the first cutting up here. The log became saturated and sank to the bottom of Georgian Bay while being floated to the mill. This particular log is Flame Birch, and was recovered from 130 feet of water. The red lumber is the heartwood from deep inside the tree, while the green board is part of the outer portion of the log that was buried in the mineral rich sediment on the bottom. That green colour is not a stain or dye of any kind, it is 100% natural….a result of minerals depositing themselves in the wood.

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Heres a close-up of the legs/splined tennons. The legs start at 1 1/2” X 2 1/4”, and taper down to 7/8” square at the tips. (Excuse the dust!)

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BTW, The sculpture is also made of old growth birch, and is sitting on a base of white oak that is actually a chunk fom the end of one of the recovered logs

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And on the same topic, this is a bench that I made of the “not so showy part” of the same log for Canadian Woodworking Magazine.

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Thanks for looking!

Ryan Shervill

-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com


31 comments so far

View Hersh's profile

Hersh

59 posts in 594 days


posted 592 days ago

Wow,
Beautifull and exquisite works of art. Your work is fine furniture at it’s best.

-- Hersh from Port Angeles, WA - Gotta Complete That Project!

View restowood's profile

restowood

22 posts in 593 days


posted 592 days ago

Very nice work, those are the kind of pieces that make me say “maybe one of these days”.

-- "Nature provides us with the most beautiful things in this world"

View stanley2's profile

stanley2

274 posts in 674 days


posted 592 days ago

Ryan – wonderful application of fabulous figured birch. How did you finish it?

-- Phil in British Columbia

View HallTree's profile

HallTree

2040 posts in 646 days


posted 592 days ago

Some nice work Ryan. Some very nice wood has been found from old logs that have been hiden for years under water. They have brought up some from Lake Superior that are selling for a lot of money.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

View jm82435's profile

jm82435

502 posts in 621 days


posted 592 days ago

Wow, I think I would have a hard time parting with that too. Thanks for sharing it with us.

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3709 posts in 858 days


posted 592 days ago

wow!

Great designs and workmanship here.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View Scott Bryan's profile (online now)

Scott Bryan

20071 posts in 700 days


posted 592 days ago

Ryan,

Your work is a pleasure to view, as always. The sculpture looks simply wonderful. I would have a hard time parting with any of these as well so I can understand you dilemma. Wonderful post.

By the way your work is improving. I see from the table top that you are capable of cutting some straight lines. With practice you will improve. :)

Thanks for the post.

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

View ben's profile

ben

158 posts in 749 days


posted 592 days ago

Ryan,

I think I just experienced my first true case of wood lust. That color is simply astounding. Thanks for setting and sharing a higher standard with your work.

-b

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 841 days


posted 592 days ago

Ryan, your craftsmanship and unique design is always an inspiration to me. this is just a wonderful piece. thanks.

-- Thos. Angle

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9496 posts in 867 days


posted 592 days ago

That’s a fantastic looking table, Ryan. Those legs are great!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Blake's profile

Blake

2715 posts in 753 days


posted 592 days ago

Gorgeous. Beautiful design and beautiful wood. I’m glad you showed us this!

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

View Colin's profile

Colin

185 posts in 799 days


posted 592 days ago

I love the history of the wood, I also marvel that after all that time the wood is capable of being dried out and able to be useful. Do you know how or why this piece of wood was retreived after all those years?

Oh, and bye the way, a wonderful design and excellent craftmanship.

-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2470 posts in 647 days


posted 592 days ago

thats a beautiful grain pattern. and the finish really brings out the color in the wood, great job!

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14096 posts in 1039 days


posted 592 days ago

SWEET… so artistic and “fluid”.

(laughed at the straight line / you’re improving comment hahaha)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Bradford's profile

Bradford

783 posts in 701 days


posted 592 days ago

Yeah, he’s got splinters in his blood.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1097 days


posted 592 days ago

You are an inspiration to us woodbutchers!

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

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

921 posts in 760 days


posted 592 days ago

Yo Ryan, you got skills. Thanks for posting. I love the details on the first piece.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View ChasHutch's profile

ChasHutch

56 posts in 594 days


posted 592 days ago

Dang

-- Hutch - North Dallas, Tx - Safety First

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 592 days ago

You outdid yourself on this one. It is exquisite.

View Kipster's profile

Kipster

1072 posts in 631 days


posted 591 days ago

Yep! Had to make that a favorite. Sorry but I think I may have to copy it someday.

-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

6065 posts in 652 days


posted 591 days ago

The wood in this piece is simply beautiful along with the piece itself. Very nice design and craftsmanship.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View MSRiverdog's profile

MSRiverdog

39 posts in 614 days


posted 591 days ago

Nice work, your pics are now in my “Save” file.

-- http://www.riverviewwoodworking.com

View ATWilliams's profile

ATWilliams

99 posts in 614 days


posted 590 days ago

Very, Very awesome,, where do you purchase your lumber from,, I would love to get my hands on some .

Thanks
Tony

-- A. T. Williams Creation's

View TomK 's profile

TomK

501 posts in 753 days


posted 562 days ago

That’s a priceless piece and the the story behind the sinker it great too. Your bench is beautiful too. Any of the sinker log left?

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3785 posts in 1193 days


posted 476 days ago

How did I miss this one! Just awesome.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7222 posts in 1125 days


posted 476 days ago

Beautiful, I’ve read that the wood that they find down there makes wonderful music instruments because of the tight grain. It’s the same with the wood they have hauled out of Lake Superior. Your work is awesome.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View trifern's profile

trifern

7890 posts in 646 days


posted 473 days ago

Great design. I love the floating top.

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

View Dennis Zongker's profile

Dennis Zongker

1005 posts in 470 days


posted 458 days ago

you do some great work. Beautiful design!!!

-- Dennis Zongker

View scottb's profile

scottb

3391 posts in 1205 days


posted 458 days ago

missed this the first go round. Beautiful work! makes me want to learn to dive and do a little recovery of my own.

-- 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/

View Randolph Torres's profile

Randolph Torres

114 posts in 407 days


posted 367 days ago

This is a very fine table I like every aspect of it.

-- another tip from cooperedpatterns

View mmh's profile

mmh

1366 posts in 601 days


posted 367 days ago

Very extraordinary work! You have done the wood justice with your craftsmanship!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

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