Reading Table Maple and Aspen

THAT is why I like Aspen.

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

Nice looking table. I love the figuring of the wood.

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

I’ve never worked with aspen before. Look like it might be fun.

Great table!

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

Hi,
You guys are a pretty infectious welcoming committee. Thanks for the comments. I will get pictures of other work up in a day or so. Yes, the aspen was a surprise. I was told that particular stock would not be attractive and I would want to “paint it”. P-A-I-N-T is not in my vocabulary, so it is lucky that I have a magic thickness planer.
Thanks to all for the enthusiasm.
It is late my time so I must sign off.
SM

-- SM

That is really sharp. Did you do anything special to make the grain, “pop?”

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

Wonderful…either you know how to pick wood or the wood picks you…lucky either way.

Great table…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Hi Sarah-Marie,

This is a very nice table. The tapered legs add a nice detail to the piece and “lighten” up the construction. I am proud of you for forgetting the P word. Wood, in my opinion, is meant to be celebrated and not covered. I like your wood selection for this project. The figured maple adds visual interest to the piece.

Nice job.

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

Nice crisp work!

Really great wood figure.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Very clean – aspen looks like some great wood to work.

-- "No Board Left Behind"

Very nice work. Love the maple finish. You have made the curl pop. Just Gorgeous. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

great table good job

-- jeanmarc manosque france

Hi SM

Great looking table. You did a very nice job on it. Really love the beautiful wood pattern. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Beautiful table!

I’m confused, though. The description is “aspen and maple”. Some folks are talking like the top is aspen, but I would have assumed from looking that the top is maple and the legs and apron are aspen. Which is it?

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

OK, Kurux you did ask, re: Did I do anything special to get the grain to pop?

Ya. I did everything wrong. After the first sanding, I used shellac to try and bring the colour of the maple top more in line with the aspen skirts and gummed it up so bad you could hardly see the grain (wrong cut)!

So, I sanded it down and decided to let the maple stay significantly different rather than only get the two to look “close”.

After sanding #3, I used a white French polish (premixed) over both maple and aspen. Then realized FP would be inadequate protection for the top of a table subject to drinks spilled, books slid, and laptops hanging off the edges.

After sanding #4 on the top, I used an antique out-of-the-can varnish gel. I do have a tendency to use water to clean off the last of the sanding dust but can’t remember if that is an acceptable practice. I also rub the finish out with a light wet sanding (400 to 1200 grit)

I’m not completely happy with the tonal colour between the two woods, and wish I had not made the skirts so long (or at least put in a drawer to visually lighten it up) but, I did get to experiment with several types of joins: mortise and tenon in front, dowels in back ,and there may be a biscuit or two in there somewhere.

I’m happy with the placement of maple boards in the joined top, but the grain was just there and tolerated my fumbles.

From the look of your projects you probably have much more experience with grain so any advise will be well taken.

Thanks for the interest
SM

-- SM

Charlie,
Yes, your right. The top is maple and rest is aspen.
Now, you guys, I’m off to the shop!
Thanks for all the compliments.
SM

-- SM