| Project by acanthuscarver | posted 569 days ago | 2222 views | 6 times favorited | 46 comments | ![]() |
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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




























46 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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20080 posts in 701 days
posted 569 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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217 posts in 599 days
posted 569 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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1456 posts in 870 days
posted 569 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 569 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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73 posts in 579 days
posted 569 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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51 posts in 592 days
posted 569 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 Shediac NB Canada
GaryK
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9496 posts in 867 days
posted 569 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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6065 posts in 653 days
posted 569 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 604 days
posted 569 days ago
Very nice indeed!
-- Tom, Central New York
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 943 days
posted 569 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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558 posts in 651 days
posted 569 days ago
Very nice grain. That is a beautiful table, Thanks for posting.
-- --Chuck
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 569 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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4015 posts in 841 days
posted 568 days ago
Just excellent!! What more can be said?
-- Thos. Angle
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 568 days ago
fantastic
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
CharlieM1958
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7467 posts in 1097 days
posted 568 days ago
Another exquisite piece, Chuck.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
trifern
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7890 posts in 646 days
posted 568 days ago
Beautiful beyond words.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Joni Hamari
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23 posts in 570 days
posted 568 days ago
Goegeous piece…absolutely stunning!
-- Joni Hamari, Cave Creek, Az www.CustomSculpture.com
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 568 days ago
Great piece Chuck just amazing. I’m in awe. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
pedrorc
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69 posts in 836 days
posted 568 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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682 posts in 551 days
posted 536 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 535 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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3402 posts in 567 days
posted 528 days ago
BEAUTIFUL , BEAUTIFUL TABLE ….Any close ups of those legs / feet ?
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
Ryan Shervill
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238 posts in 691 days
posted 528 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 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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238 posts in 691 days
posted 528 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 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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238 posts in 691 days
posted 528 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 528 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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238 posts in 691 days
posted 527 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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150 posts in 591 days
posted 527 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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318 posts in 1079 days
posted 527 days ago
Chuck last time I was in PA I stopped by Hearns Hardwoods what an awesome place.
-- Billp
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 527 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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1374 posts in 1205 days
posted 526 days ago
chuck the grain alone in that table would make it beautiful, your carving makes it astounding!
superb work!
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
acanthuscarver
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150 posts in 591 days
posted 526 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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2470 posts in 647 days
posted 515 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!
goldenhands
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97 posts in 418 days
posted 405 days ago
Hay,
Very nice work, nicely choosen wood and color, skills – well done man.
-- The way I work - the way I live. goldenhands
mtnwild
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1979 posts in 406 days
posted 403 days ago
WOW, just take that right to the furniture museum. Golden!
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Dennis Zongker
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1005 posts in 471 days
posted 323 days ago
Beautiful!!! This is the first time I’ve seen your work. You showed up on roll the dice. All of your pieces of furniture are Beautiful. What are you working on now? And hows the economy been going for you?
-- Dennis Zongker
Karson
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25279 posts in 1279 days
posted 323 days ago
Beautiful table. That is a great job of workmanship.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
davidtheboxmaker
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372 posts in 684 days
posted 323 days ago
Classic design and beautifully executed. That’s a piece that is truly worthy of the great timber you used to make it.
dustygirl
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735 posts in 607 days
posted 323 days ago
That is one beautiful table Chuck.Nice work.
-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?
acanthuscarver
home | projects | blog
150 posts in 591 days
posted 322 days ago
Thanks everyone for the new round of compliments. LJ’s is a tremendous community of the friendliest people on the planet.
Dennis,
Currently I’m working on an adapted Shaker table which will be a small desk for someone. I also have a Philadelphia Secretary Desk I’m making and then it’s on to a pair of matching spice chests. Somewhere in there I will be exhibiting/presenting at a half a dozen shows (WoodWorks Events in Springfield, MA, The Woodworking Shows in Baltimore, Columbus, Indianapolis, Somerset and Chantilly) and my classes kick back into gear in February. So, I really don’t have time to worry about the economy. I’m fortunate that I still have lots of work and people want to take my classes. Your work is pretty spectacular too. Thanks for your kind words.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
a1Jim
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15600 posts in 456 days
posted 303 days ago
Hey Chuck
Very Nice Pie crust table . I’m in the process of making a pie crust just because I haven’t made one before
To keep the cost down I made mine from Poplar this is the first carving I’ve done and I can’t imagine how tough it must be in figured maple, If I knew how much time I would have in it I would have made it from a nicer wood. After I’m threw I’ll use some of Charles Neils finishing tricks on it. I really enjoyed
viewing all your beautiful projects. in you photo you look like your 35 or so I can’t help but wonder at what age you started woodworking with 30 years experience . I tried viewing more of your work on your web site but just found one page.
Jim
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
mreza
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28 posts in 407 days
posted 292 days ago
Just incredible stuff you do. Found your projects through digging old stuff here.
All are very top notch (from somebody who started this as a hobby 3 years ago).
Thanks for posting them.
kolwdwrkr
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2218 posts in 469 days
posted 127 days ago
wow, the material is beautiful. Well done
-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~