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Fleur de lis Tray

Project by CharlieM1958 posted 493 days ago 1164 views 2 times favorited 37 comments Add to Favorites Watch

I guess I’ll have to enter this in the summer awards contest just because I was already making it when the contest was announced. What a coincidence!

In reality, this is just a very simple tray (read: not contest-worthy) that I made for two reasons. 1) To try out my fleur de lis inlay template, and 2) to experiment with pore filler. I’d never used pore filler before, and was curious to see if it would really allow me to get a glass-smooth finish on walnut. A tray just seemed like an obvious choice, since it would give me a large flat surface to work with.

I’m happy to report that the Behlens water-based pore filler works as advertised. Finish is multiple coats of wipe-on poly.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"


37 comments so far

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

1366 posts in 541 days


posted 493 days ago

Very nice, lookls like you inlay template works well. I have never used a pore filler before either do you have to dye it to match the word or does it already come colored?

Nice tray.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View Colin's profile

Colin

185 posts in 799 days


posted 493 days ago

Excellent work once again, thanks for posting this model.

-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"

View TedM's profile

TedM

1839 posts in 611 days


posted 493 days ago

Looks great! What is the Fleur de lis made of?

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 493 days ago

Thanks, Guys!

Glenn, you can buy it neutral and put dye in it, or buy it already colored. This was just called “brown”.

Ted, the inlay is just some 1/8” light colored hardwood leftover from another project. Don’t remember the exact species.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9496 posts in 866 days


posted 493 days ago

Looks great to me Charlie!

I am going to have to try some of that filler one of these days.

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

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

2030 posts in 592 days


posted 493 days ago

That looks terrific! I really like the contrast, and your inlay work looks nice and tight.

Great job, as usual Charlie!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14852 posts in 729 days


posted 493 days ago

Great work Charlie. Good luck in the contest.

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

View Bradford's profile

Bradford

783 posts in 701 days


posted 493 days ago

Nice work putting it by the pool, it brings out that refreshing feeling that we all love.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

View Earle Wright's profile

Earle Wright

123 posts in 598 days


posted 493 days ago

Charlie,

Is that a ‘fleur de lis’ or a pigeon that just left a dropping????

-- Earle Wright, Lenoir City, Tennessee

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 493 days ago

sweet !

well done.

eye popping finish and the inlay, welll…. it is extraordinary

anyone ever fill pores on quartersawn white oak ? I’ve always used paste wax as a final coat to do that duty.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View griff's profile

griff

897 posts in 640 days


posted 493 days ago

Charlie.
that is a beautiful tray, you did a great job and the finish is in the wow factor to me, I really like the shine. Great build.

-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none

View Masterchief 's profile

Masterchief

70 posts in 605 days


posted 493 days ago

Beautiful work Charlie, perfect inlay. One day I could be as talented.

Billy

-- When you are at a point in life and you think there is nothing more to learn, then you must understand that you have learned nothing at all. Billy

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 493 days ago

You guys are too kind. Well, except for Earle with that pigeon remark. LOL!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Allison's profile

Allison

648 posts in 677 days


posted 493 days ago

I only wish I new what you all are talking about, but then again that’s why I am here, to learn. This is Beautiful. Like I have said before I have always wanted to try inlay. I guess I need to first try to find out what a pore filler is first. I am serious when I say I have never even heard of that in reference to wood (inlay), now of course if you were talking about a woman’s bathroom?!!!! Then I know all about pore fillers. LOL!!!
Beautiful work!
PEACE!!!

-- Allison, Northeastern Ca. Remember, Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3415 posts in 942 days


posted 493 days ago

Looks like it might be a Fleur de Ash.
And the tabletop is as smooth as silk.
I have to admit I have only used the quart of Pore-O-Pac (Behlen’s oil based filler) left at the shop by a buddy of mine as a weight during glue up.

That’s a sweet little tray, BTW. I hope you are serving Mme. CharlieM the traditional Beignettes and chicory coffee in bed with this.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View cobbler's profile

cobbler

242 posts in 669 days


posted 493 days ago

Great piece Charlie. I`ll definitely try that pour filler.
Thanks for posting.
That pool looks inviting.

-- ''Carry on my wayward son''

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 493 days ago

Doug, you are right about the inlay being ash. The mad cow disease had eaten away the part of my brain where that word was stored, I think. :-)

Allison, pore filler has nothing to do with the inlay specifically. Open-grained woods, like oak and walnut, are very difficult to get a glassy finish on, because no matter how much you sand them, you can still see and feel the height difference between the grain and non-grain areas. Pore filler is a thick pasty liguid that you wipe on liberally, then squeegee off the excess. Then when you do your final sanding, you have a much smoother surface on which to apply the final finish.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

921 posts in 760 days


posted 493 days ago

Nice. (read: is contest worthy)
Good job with the inlay. It was fun to watch this develop.
The finish looks fantastic.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1659 posts in 968 days


posted 493 days ago

Very nice looking table. I have been curious about those fillers. Does it limit your topcoat options? Can you shellac over it for example?

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 493 days ago

John: If you use the water-based type, which I did, you can put any finish over it. If you use the oil-based variety, they say you should stick to oil-based finishes.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Kerry's profile

Kerry

129 posts in 668 days


posted 492 days ago

Very nice Charlie – the finish looks great and the inlay edge looks perfect.

Kerry

-- Alberta, Canada

View romansfivefive's profile

romansfivefive

258 posts in 651 days


posted 492 days ago

I am really impressed.

-- www.robneves.com

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1454 posts in 869 days


posted 492 days ago

Wow! that is a very nice piece Charlie. I really like how the inlay came out….

-- Chris

View Allison's profile

Allison

648 posts in 677 days


posted 492 days ago

Okay Charlie, Is this similar to envirotex?
I find this fascinating, I use a lot of black Walnut and I know what you are talking about. I also use oak (although I can hardly stand the smell so I try not to use it)Of course I am cutting it up in little tiny pieces LOL!!!, But seriously is it like envirotex. I don’t know if you have ever heard of Deft, but I have used it before but it does not claim to be a filler. But you sure know you’ve used it when you use it. Are these on the same lines?

-- Allison, Northeastern Ca. Remember, Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!

View Raymondz's profile

Raymondz

52 posts in 491 days


posted 491 days ago

Very nice looking project. That inlay is great.

-- - Ray

View Roz's profile

Roz

441 posts in 665 days


posted 491 days ago

Very nice Charlie. Good looking table.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3415 posts in 942 days


posted 491 days ago

Allison – I’m totally behind you on the oak aroma bandwagon. I some storm salvaged logs in my truck bed…draws bottle flies.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View woodnot's profile

woodnot

51 posts in 493 days


posted 489 days ago

Nice even color and exellent sheen quality + + + + great job

-- NW wood worker

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 581 days


posted 489 days ago

Nice table!

Thanks for the post

Callum

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

View woodbutcher's profile

woodbutcher

416 posts in 1044 days


posted 488 days ago

Charlie,
Nice clean design! What type wood did you use on the leg/frames? The finish on that walnut is is sure slick-looks like you achieved what you set out to do.I’m not commenting on the fluer de lis because I have never even attempted to do an inlay-and thought it was a fur de lance! Well I’m sure you’ve heard enough out of me now! Oh, but good luck in the contest.
Sincerely,
Ken Mcginnis

-- woodbutcher north carolina

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 488 days ago

Thanks, Ken. The legs are maple.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile (online now)

Dick, & Barb Cain

6991 posts in 1178 days


posted 477 days ago

Great craftsmanship Charlie, & a beautiful finish.

Good Luck!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 477 days ago

Thanks, Dick!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1750 posts in 594 days


posted 472 days ago

Beautiful work Charlie,

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1750 posts in 594 days


posted 456 days ago

hello charlie congratulations for your third superb place congratulations job

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 456 days ago

looks even better the 2nd time. Beautiful depth of finish.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View hasbeen99's profile

hasbeen99

106 posts in 417 days


posted 416 days ago

Beautiful work, Charlie! My wife loves fleurs de lis, and I’ve been thinking about making a couple of serving trays because we usually eat on the couch in front of the TV. I’m not skilled enough yet to try the inlay, but you’ve definitely given me something to aspire to. Well done!

-- "The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself in love." --Galatians 5:6

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