First real dye job finished - whew!

[Mike Schwing]

Right off the bat - this was a kit project. I don't know why I bought it, it was an impulse, but I'm glad its done! I don't yet have the skills to make those legs but I will someday.

However, I'm darned proud of the finishing job. It was very time consuming. Scraped and sanded to 220. Sprayed on Solar Lux Pennsylvania Cherry full strength with a detail gun. Two coats of Watco Natural. One coat of Zinner Bulls eye shellac. 5 coats of wipe on Arm-R-Seal varnish (I LOVE that stuff). Then the top and scalloped edges got two coats of Behlen Rock Hard Table Top varnish. That stuff is ROCK hard for sure, but its unbelievably glossy, and it was quite a chore to rub the top down to the final result, but it was worth it. There are two pics below but a good few more at the link listed below. Its curly maple.

BTW, I also SCORED an incredible find yesterday. An old man with a huge barn full of gorgeous cherry, walnut, oak and maple, all at $2/bf. I bought nearly 1000 feet yesterday and it didn't even make a dent in his stock. Gloat for me!

Thanks for your finishing help guys - it made me brave enough to attempt the spray dye.

http://home.earthlink.net/~schwalden/tea

http://home.earthlink.net/~schwalden/tea/tea5.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~schwalden/tea/tea7.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~schwalden/tea/tea4.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~schwalden/tea/tea8.JPG

[Lloyd Robins]

Wow! Beautiful finish! Whose kit was it? I am very jealous about the wood. Show us what you build with it. :)

[Jim Becker]

I was worried when you started talking about a "dye job" that you were punking out on us...but obviously, that errant thought was truly misguided. :D

Seriously, great job on that table, Mike. It really demonstrates how a great finish can make a project turn out quite outstanding. Keep up the good work and be sure and share your projects from all that stock you just bought!

[Todd Burch]

Looks great Mike! A classic. Now that you are finished, you can cut your grass!!

Todd.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

That's beautiful. I'm sure it would be extremely rude to ask what you gave for the kit...but I reckon I'm not the only one wondering. So what did you give for the kit? :rolleyes:

KC

[Carl Eyman]

I could say Bella Bella even say Vunderbar.

[Mike Schwing]

Sure Kirk, I don't mind, nor do I think its rude. I was at the Bartley Collection plant / tour / sale early in the year. www.bartleycollection.com (http://www.bartleycollection.com) . They had 30% off kit prices. This one was $499 minus the 30%, so it was right around $350 I guess.

If I really wanted a piece of curvy fancy furniture for my own home, I wouldn't have a problem doing this again. Brand new tea tables like this one retail for about $1500 around here. As it stands, we're more of Shaker style furniture folk, and well, Shaker style is not beyond my capability. I had no use in mind for this table when I impulse bought the kit, and now my goal is to put it up at a consignment shop where I hope to get enough for it to buy a fancy new lathe and tools. If it works out that it sells for what I think it will based on other tea tables I've seen around here, I'll have a little over a grand to play with.

I'd put it on eBay but I think the shipping would be a problem. ?

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

I really like that piece. Judging from the work I don't think you need to shy away from making the legs yourself. The main thing is to have a good pattern or design with the plan. Cabriole legs aren't nearly as hard as they look if you just take your time and keep in mind what you are trying to create.

[Kevin Gerstenecker]

That's VERY nice work Mike. I hope it fetch's top dollar for you, and well it should.........it's beautiful! Kit or not, you did a great job. I hope the Lathe is just around the corner for ya! Thanks for sharing the pictures...........it is just "nice" to look at.

[Paul Di Biasio]

Where in MD is the wood for sale, it might be worth the trip.

Thanks and nice job on the table.

[Byron Trantham]

I doubt that you will have any problem selling that beautiful piece of furniture. I'm a dye, shellac and lacquer guy. I like to put dye on with a brush. I brush shellac only because the stuff is so hard to clean up [the spray gun] and I spray the WB lacquer. As you pointed out, lots of steps, lots of sanding but the finish is usually worth it.

Again, very nice job on the table.

[Don Farr]

Very, very nice Mike. Like you it's not our style but none the less you did a beautiful job on it. I am super jealous on the lumber deal. I just can't find any thing like that around here. YET!