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commision credenza

Project by Mike Shea posted 584 days ago 966 views 5 times favorited 30 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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


30 comments so far

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

6176 posts in 668 days


posted 584 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

View acanthuscarver's profile

acanthuscarver

156 posts in 606 days


posted 584 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

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20651 posts in 716 days


posted 584 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.

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 598 days


posted 584 days ago

Nice work Mike!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

View dlcarver's profile

dlcarver

260 posts in 624 days


posted 584 days ago

Looks like a PRO did it. Great job, Mike.

Dave

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

View Chris Davis's profile

Chris Davis

556 posts in 876 days


posted 584 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.

-- Watch live video from our shop. http://wwbeds.com/live.htm

View RAH's profile

RAH

413 posts in 771 days


posted 584 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

View Roper's profile

Roper

766 posts in 607 days


posted 584 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-

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3421 posts in 958 days


posted 584 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.

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7632 posts in 1113 days


posted 584 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"

View Woodshopfreak's profile

Woodshopfreak

390 posts in 636 days


posted 584 days ago

I guess I like the poo poo color as well. I think it looks great. Nice job.

-- Tyler, Illinois

View lightweightladyleftie's profile

lightweightladyleftie

413 posts in 607 days


posted 584 days ago

What an outstanding piece! PTL anyway! Philippians 2:14

-- "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 883 days


posted 584 days ago

Great looking job! Nice and clean!

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

View trifern's profile

trifern

7894 posts in 661 days


posted 584 days ago

Great job!

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

View Woodhacker's profile

Woodhacker

1145 posts in 618 days


posted 584 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

View gbear's profile

gbear

103 posts in 993 days


posted 584 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

View Mike Shea's profile

Mike Shea

150 posts in 888 days


posted 584 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

View will2480's profile

will2480

27 posts in 699 days


posted 583 days ago

Mike,
I really like this piece that you’ve created. Great work!
-Robert

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7314 posts in 1141 days


posted 583 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. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View BobR's profile

BobR

137 posts in 879 days


posted 583 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

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14920 posts in 745 days


posted 583 days ago

Excellent very presentable job Mike.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View Mike Shea's profile

Mike Shea

150 posts in 888 days


posted 583 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

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7314 posts in 1141 days


posted 582 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. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Mike Shea's profile

Mike Shea

150 posts in 888 days


posted 582 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

View againstthegrain's profile

againstthegrain

72 posts in 647 days


posted 581 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.

View motthunter's profile

motthunter

2079 posts in 693 days


posted 581 days ago

fantastic work

-- making sawdust....

View miles125's profile

miles125

1420 posts in 900 days


posted 565 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""

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1751 posts in 611 days


posted 484 days ago

all .les proportions, the superb completion is perfect work congratulations

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View doms's profile

doms

39 posts in 247 days


posted 36 days ago

i love it

-- Dominique Barbier - Dallas, TX

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

16776 posts in 471 days


posted 36 days ago

This is wonderful love the details and stain.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

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