| Project by acanthuscarver | posted 96 days ago | 599 views | 1 time favorited | 36 comments | ![]() |
I’m just in the mood for tea tables tonight. This pie crust stand is copied from an original that is in a private collection. The top is approximately 26” in diameter. The whole piece is made of extremely figured tiger maple. If you want a challenge, try carving ball and claw feet in this tuff. It’s like carving iron. The color is achieved with a layered analine dye and oil stain. The finish on the top is a tung oil and varnish mix. The base is finished in shellac. Yep, it took a lot of hours to do all that carving.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
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36 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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8049 posts in 228 days
posted 96 days ago
Chuck,
This is a beautiful table. You really did a nice job of bringing out the grain in the tiger maple. It adds so much visual interest to the piece. Your finishing looks very good as well.
I can imagine it did take a lot of time to do all that carving.
Thanks for the post. I really enjoy looking at your work.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
kenn
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60 posts in 126 days
posted 96 days ago
Wow, beautiful wood and a fabulous table. I love it. Thanks for sharing.
-- Every cloud has a silver lining
Chris
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1010 posts in 397 days
posted 96 days ago
Would you tell us exactly how you dyed it? Finishing is a weak spot for me, most especially were it concerns dye.
Also, Wow!
-- Chris
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 96 days ago
Chris, I tell you what, I’ll work up a blog on some finishing tips and try to get it up in the next week or so. Once I get my blog up and running on my website, I’ll try to post something pretty regularly on finishing with LOTS of pics on the various stages. Keep watching for the posts.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
John Fry
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65 posts in 106 days
posted 96 days ago
Very impressive Chuck!
I’ve done some carving (only when necessary) so I can appreciate the work you put into this table. I’ve done B&C feet in walnut and mahogany, BUT never in hard maple.
You do beautiful work!
-- John, Chisel and Bit Custom Crafted Furniture, www.chiselandbit.com
jackass
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3 posts in 119 days
posted 96 days ago
We have a pie crust table in our family, I have always admired it. However, it is made with a separate moulding. Is yours? Regardless, it is a test of patience that I am not capable of. It is outstanding. I would like to hear more about the mechanics of your task. You are a true master.
Jack
-- Jack Keefe
GaryK
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8274 posts in 394 days
posted 96 days ago
Very cool. I’ve been waiting for a super wide piece of mahogany to come along to make a single piece one of those.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
ND2ELK
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1964 posts in 180 days
posted 96 days ago
High Chuck
Exquisite detail and design as always. Really love that grain. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
ww_kayak
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69 posts in 131 days
posted 96 days ago
Very nice indeed!
-- Tom, Central New York
Douglas Bordner
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2302 posts in 470 days
posted 96 days ago
Wow. I can’t imagine carving something like that, let alone with constant grain reversal and maple to boot.
That is a masterwork. Bravo.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
grovemadman
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541 posts in 178 days
posted 96 days ago
Very nice grain. That is a beautiful table, Thanks for posting.
-- --Chuck
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 96 days ago
Thanks to all for their compliments. The molded top is carved from the solid. I can’t even begin to imagine the headaches of trying to make it a separate piece and apply it. I have some 20” wide tiger maple but, even with all my sources, that 26” wide super curly piece has managed to elude me. Good luck in your hunt Gary. I’m sure when you find that super wide piece, given your talent, your table will easily surpass mine.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Thos. Angle
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3243 posts in 368 days
posted 96 days ago
Just excellent!! What more can be said?
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
MsDebbieP
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11043 posts in 567 days
posted 96 days ago
fantastic
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
CharlieM1958
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3705 posts in 624 days
posted 95 days ago
Another exquisite piece, Chuck.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
trifern
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2320 posts in 173 days
posted 95 days ago
Beautiful beyond words.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
Joni Hamari
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21 posts in 97 days
posted 95 days ago
Goegeous piece…absolutely stunning!
-- Joni Hamari, Cave Creek, Az www.CustomSculpture.com
jockmike2
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3890 posts in 652 days
posted 95 days ago
Great piece Chuck just amazing. I’m in awe. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
pedrorc
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62 posts in 363 days
posted 95 days ago
Fantastic work, the colors of the wood are superb, good finish
-- Pedro Rodrigues da Costa, Sintra, Portugal
matt garcia
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169 posts in 78 days
posted 63 days ago
That is an awesome pie crust table!! Can I apprentice with you!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE????
-- Matt, Houston Texas
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 63 days ago
Matt,
From what I see, there’s not much apprenticing you can do with me. Great job on the highboy and other pieces.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Dusty56
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690 posts in 94 days
posted 55 days ago
BEAUTIFUL , BEAUTIFUL TABLE ….Any close ups of those legs / feet ?
-- Dusty56@comcast.net
Ryan Shervill
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177 posts in 219 days
posted 55 days ago
Very nice!
Hey Gary…I know where there is a 16’ X 48” wide pice of 16/4 Sapelle…would that work for you? :)
Shipping might be kinda pricey though…..
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 55 days ago
Dusty, the piece is long gone at this point. I can’t remember whether this one now resides in Kentucky or Ohio so trekking off to snap a close-up probably isn’t in the cards considering the price of gas.
Ryan, If Gary can’t figure out how to get that Sapele, let me know where it is…I can make a lot of pie crust tables out a plank like that.
Thanks for checking out my table.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Ryan Shervill
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177 posts in 219 days
posted 55 days ago
LOL…and did I mention that it’s full of pomelle figure? It’s at Century Mill Lumber….But that’s here in Ontario….can you imagine the shipping ?
?
They’re at www.centurymill.com
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 55 days ago
Ryan, Ontario isn’t that far away, really. I’ll check it out and see if I can get there before Gary…
Thanks for the tip.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Ryan Shervill
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177 posts in 219 days
posted 55 days ago
No worries…there’s plenty for everyone. The stuff they have in their warehouse will blow your mind.
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 55 days ago
Not if I get there first!
I love mindblowing wood warehouses…I head out to Hearne Hardwoods as often as possible. I even take my Fundamentals classes there for a tour. I think taking a class to Century mill might be a little out of the way…
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 55 days ago
Ryan,
Wohoo! They’re only an 8 hour drive from me! Looks like I’ll be clearing out their warehouse soon enough. :)
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Ryan Shervill
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177 posts in 219 days
posted 54 days ago
ummm…the last sapelle slab tabletop I bought there was 5 grand….and there were at least 20 of them…..bring you chequebook!
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 54 days ago
Ouch! Was a time when 5k Canadian was affordable…
If I’m going to clean them out, I guess I’ll have to bring someone else’s checkbook. :)
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Billp
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196 posts in 606 days
posted 54 days ago
Chuck last time I was in PA I stopped by Hearns Hardwoods what an awesome place.
-- Billp
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 54 days ago
Bill, I know I offered before but next time you’re in PA, swing by my place and visit the shop. If you’re up for a trip to Hearne’s, I’d be happy to make the run with you. Rick is a friend and a great guy not to mention the unreal lumber. Did you see that bandmill he has?
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
darryl
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704 posts in 732 days
posted 54 days ago
chuck the grain alone in that table would make it beautiful, your carving makes it astounding!
superb work!
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 118 days
posted 53 days ago
Darryl,
Thanks for the compliment. I check out your projects and it looks like you’re doing some great work. Some of those pens are amazing! Far too much patience for me. Thanks again for looking and commenting.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
teenagewoodworker
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1739 posts in 174 days
posted 42 days ago
that is some figure on that maple! wonderful job on the carvings too. I have heard a lot about the hardness of maple and i can’t even imagine how hard it would be to get the detail you got in a piece like this in a hard wood like maple. thanks for the post!