Cocktail table for Martha's Hideaway

Mark, that is one beautiful table!!............Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!

this came out really great mark

and well …
the things we learn along the way
aren’t always where we think they are

a real ‘family treasure’

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

Fine looking heirloom you made Mark. Good job.

It came out really good Mark. It’s very unique.

It’s amazing what you did with recycled wood.
I am very sure we will see some more amazing projects from you in the future.

Well done my friend!

GRANDE ENTRE LOS GRANDES CARPINTEROS MARCOS!!!!!!
LA MESA QUEDÓ ESPECTACULAR Y SI TÚ NO ERES EL MISMO
DE ANTES DE UNIRTE A LJS, TE DIGO: “BIENVENIDO AL CLUB” JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA

-- KOVA, EL CARPINTERO DEL PUEBLO https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Carpintero-Del-Pueblo/148976618479733

Excellent piece of workmanship. Well worth all the effort you put into it. A new family heirloom.
Jim

-- It always looks better when it's finished!

Mark that is a fine effort and one that particularly takes my interest, with the wood mosaics, keep up the great work
Bryan

-- Bryan

That came out amazing. I love the top. What finish did you use?

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

Wow, thank you all for the compliments. I really appreciate you all.

Finish 320 grit. Wiped base with water to raise up the loose stuff. Tried 00000 steel wool on wet wood for base. Bad mistake because it stained the wood. Wiped top with water and used 320 grit – much better! Rubbed tung oil in with sections of old white bed sheets. Waited 3 days. Sanded with 00000 steel wool. Tung oil. 3 days. Wool etc. I rubbed in 4 coats.

I used The wood river brand tung oil they sell at woodcraft. To my surprise, it was less expensive than the stuff at lowes.

Can you help me tweak this method so I can do better next time? I am very happy with it but you all know way better than I.

-- Learning is like a door. Open it and there are hundreds more on the other side. Thanks for all the lessons!

Lots of math! you did really nice.

-- dobiewon

Mark,

Your table is Beautiful.

Your efforts and skill will live on forever in your projects. As you challenged yourself to bring your vision to fruition, you gained confidence in yourself. As you develope your woodworking skills there will be times when descisions [ H2O + Fe = rust ] may not manifest themselves to your expectations. Don’t let it interfere with your creativity. It’s just wood, until you say it’s an accomplishment worthy of presentation. ...and they all may not be, as we have all learned.

I humbly appreciate being listed in the credits of your journey, but it was you who envisioned your ‘Phoenix’ rising from the reclaimed lumber.

You’ve done yourself proud, now it is up to you to ‘Pay it Forward’ to one who asks for help.

Best Regards, your friend. – Grandpa Len

P.S. ...a ‘Wink and a Nod’ from Mother Nature for repurposing that lumber so beautifully.

-- Mother Nature should be proud of what you've done with her tree. - Len ...just north of a stone's throw from the oHIo, river that is, in So. Indiana.

Great job and cool story. Yor onthe right track some great people on here and always willing to help one another. I love this site. Look fwd to seeing more.

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

All that geometry…my head hurts! Well done.

-- Brian in Arlington, TX - Laziness is the foundation of efficiency.

I’m not sure you need tweaking, it looks terrific!
I generally don’t use steel wool on an oil varnish finish. I slap on the first two coats; no sanding. After the second coat has dried for a few days, I use 600 grit automotive sand paper damped with mineral spirits and get it smooth. I may apply another coat, but generally I switch to a wiping varnish like GF Arm-R-Seal. Oil/varnish blends offer very little protection so something I think someone will set a glass on gets some sort of top coat over it.

On something like a box, I’ll do 3 coats of an oil/varnish. Once it has cured for 10 days, I wipe it down with a paper bag, then rub in some furniture wax with 0000 steel wool.

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

Howdy again, your kind and generous comments are very heartening. I can’t thank you enough!

As for the math headaches, I can’t believe what I’m going to try next. I wish I could talk myself out of it. When I get a bug on the brain, It doesn’t go away. I just have to go for it.

Brian, I’m curious. Did you get to watch the demo at 6 flags? I’m going to miss the flashback.

Joe, I rechecked my package of steel wool. It is 0000 not 00000. I’m going to try your method after my current project is done. I’m making some simple end tables to go with the cocktail table. I’m sticking with same finish method to stay consistent.

-- Learning is like a door. Open it and there are hundreds more on the other side. Thanks for all the lessons!