| Project by Mike Shea | posted 78 days ago | 434 views | 2 times favorited | 27 comments | ![]() |
this is my third commision and i am staying busy so i cant complain. however i must say that woodworking for a living just isnt as much fun as woodworking as a hobyist. on this most recent job i found myself complaining more than a few times. my mom had to pull me asside and remind me that woodworking for a job is what i had always asked for. i pulled myself together and finished the job. as i stood back and took a wide glance at my finish product the gradification was overwellming. i was very happy. the credenza was made from hard maple. the turned posts and bun feet were turned on my new oliver lathe. the casework was made with dadoes and the top and bottom mouldings were made by layering diferent router profiles to create an ornate profile. the wood was then stained a redish poo poo collor. but came out just how the client wanted it. but anyways i used anyline dyes, orange glaze and a gel stain to achieve the collor. i finished it with a thin coat of shellac and beeswaz. worked out magnificently. mad props to the wood whisperer,”marc” for help on the colloring.
-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me
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27 comments so far
ND2ELK
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1822 posts in 162 days
posted 78 days ago
Hi Mike
Beautiful cabinet! Outstanding job! You should be proud of this one. Your are becoming quite a craftsman. I guess I like poo poo colors. I think the finish is great. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
acanthuscarver
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103 posts in 100 days
posted 78 days ago
An amazing piece. The creative use of the router in the moldings is very good. Your turnings are clean and well executed. A few more years under your belt, and a lot more projects, and woodworking for a living will gain back some of the fun it had when it was just a hobby. The color is pretty typical for pieces made in maple, so don’t put yourself down too much. The finish looks great. The way I always look at it when a client picks a color I am not fond of is “the customer is always right, even when they’re wrong they’re right”. Great job. Good luck with your career. Feel free to email me if you have questions or just want to bounce an idea off someone. Keep up the good work.
-- Chuck Bender, period furniture maker, www.acanthus.com
Scott Bryan
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7762 posts in 210 days
posted 78 days ago
Mike,
You did a good job on the cabinet. Your turned legs, arched doors and edge profiles add visual interest to the piece. The color of the cabinet looks even and well done. I have to agree that the color and finish look good. Despite you personal misgivings you did a good job with the piece.
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.
thetimberkid
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291 posts in 91 days
posted 78 days ago
Nice work Mike!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- There is no such thing as a mistake....just a design modification
dlcarver
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227 posts in 118 days
posted 78 days ago
Looks like a PRO did it. Great job, Mike.
Dave
-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com
Chris Davis
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190 posts in 370 days
posted 78 days ago
Great piece. I like that you even turn your own post. Most people, like myself, look to oursource that part of the project. Good overall skills. Love the humor in the write-up too.
-- Check out the live video stream from our shop. http://wwbeds.com
RAH
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214 posts in 265 days
posted 78 days ago
I would be proud to say I built this Mike, I wish I had your talent. I feel the same way about staining wood, I built a blanket chest for my son and his new wife out of cherry and they wanted it stained, I did.
Tell your mom we said thanks for shaking your around a bit, we may have never seen this.
Ron
-- Ron Central, CA
Roper
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197 posts in 101 days
posted 78 days ago
you go mike. that is a very nice piece of furniture,your client will be very happy.keep up the good work.
-- Roper - master of sawdust-
Douglas Bordner
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2256 posts in 452 days
posted 78 days ago
I’m sure it’s hard to give up the design vision of your own to satisfy the customer’s, but that’s the nature of the beast – and it pays for new lathes and other goodies like food and rent. I’m glad to hear you’re staying busy.
I think you have done solid work here. Now how about some more of your amazing bridge series of boxes.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
CharlieM1958
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3504 posts in 607 days
posted 78 days ago
That is a fantastic job, Mike. The construction and finish are outstanding. But you confirm my doubts about whether I’d actually like to do it for a living. It’s more fun on my own terms.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Woodshopfreak
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315 posts in 130 days
posted 78 days ago
I guess I like the poo poo color as well. I think it looks great. Nice job.
-- Tyler, Illinois
lightweightladyleftie
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54 posts in 101 days
posted 78 days ago
What an outstanding piece! PTL anyway! Philippians 2:14
-- child of the King, Ephesians 5:22
GaryK
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8182 posts in 376 days
posted 78 days ago
Great looking job! Nice and clean!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
trifern
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1810 posts in 155 days
posted 78 days ago
Great job!
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
Woodhacker
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310 posts in 111 days
posted 78 days ago
That is a truly beautiful credenza Mike. I love the design. The owners should be extremely happy with it. Good Job!
-- Martin, Kansas
gbear
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47 posts in 487 days
posted 78 days ago
Nice job Mike, one you can be proud of. While I don’t build furniture for a living I do take on commissioned jobs from friends and acquaintances. The stress level goes up for those projects because I don’t want to disappoint my firends and because I know they will judge my overall abilities by that one piece. It makes me concentrate harder on making sure I am building the piece properly and thus improves my skills for those hobby pieces that I make just for my enjoyment. There is also a time in the middle of every project when I wonder if it is really going to come out as I envisioned and I question myself as to why I tackled this job. But, in the end, they always do come together and I am proud of my accomplishments. Keep up the good work as you have a great deal of talent. I have long been a fan of your beautiful boxes.
-- gbear, Carmichael, CA
Mike Shea
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67 posts in 382 days
posted 78 days ago
well thanx for all the compliments. that is why this site is the best thing in the world. you are able to get ideas from other people as well as recieve compliments on your own work. makes me feel great . i geusse allot of people like the collor and finish. i feel much better about it now thanx for the motivation guys i take it all to heart. I REALLY DO.
-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me
will2480
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25 posts in 193 days
posted 77 days ago
Mike,
I really like this piece that you’ve created. Great work!
-Robert
jockmike2
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3814 posts in 635 days
posted 77 days ago
Mike Your work is beautiful, thank God you can produce such beauty. I, and a lot others here can’t. You are truly blessed. Your friend mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
BobR
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125 posts in 373 days
posted 77 days ago
Very nice work. I don’t have a problem with the colour – looks fine to me. I know what you mean re the fun going out of it when it becomes your living. I started to go semi pro with my photography. I found that I was not enjoying it as much. The business side was just not my thing, and galleries take is just too much. Good luck with your new venture.
-- Bob
Grumpy
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3782 posts in 239 days
posted 77 days ago
Excellent very presentable job Mike.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Mike Shea
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67 posts in 382 days
posted 77 days ago
oh get out of here “jockmike2” i just looked at your work and believe me you have prudced some verry beautifull pieces of work. the thornsen table is perfect. and the hope chest!!!! gourgouse. give yourself more credit. love your stuff…... your friend MIKE ;)
-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me
jockmike2
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3814 posts in 635 days
posted 76 days ago
Thank you Mike, but I still think you sell yourself short. That is some wonderful work you’re doing there. I’m a hack, don’t have patience I should have to be a good carpenter. That chest took me a year to complete. My favorite thing as you know is the lathe. Have’nt been on one for a while since mine took a dump. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Mike Shea
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67 posts in 382 days
posted 76 days ago
haha it dosnt mater how long something takes you as long as you enjoyed yourself in the procces. and i amagine that you did. right. otherwise you wouldnt still be woodworking. as far as the lathe goes. what a bummer. mine broke on me also and i found a bitchen 14 X 42” oliver lathe for way cheep on ebay. ill keep my eye open. are you looking for another? anyways thanx mike for the compliments its muchly apreciated. MIKE
-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me
againstthegrain
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73 posts in 141 days
posted 75 days ago
WOW! Well done!!
-- Anchul - Warrensburg, MO: As a Pastor, I am just trying to get closer to Jesus. He was a woodworker too.
motthunter
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950 posts in 187 days
posted 75 days ago
fantastic work
-- making sawdust....
miles125
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837 posts in 394 days
posted 59 days ago
I see you progressing! You go dude!
You should explore glazing and shading to help get rid of that brand spanking new look on a piece like this.
Great looking craftsmanship.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""