Incoming...

Of course we've all stood in line. We started doing it in Kindergarten, but then nobody every told us we were developing a skill we'd be using for the rest of our lives. Now some of us are better at it than others. These pieces have just joined the Que-- newest additions to the shop's lineup. 

This little quarter sawn cherry record cabinet (below) displays it's wonderful veneer inlay--it's already a beauty. We're going to gently restore it to it's former magnificence.

 This little SOLID mahogany lamp table (below) appears to have been a high school shop project. As with all of us its lines clearly date it, but it will go nicely with the color and finish of the recliner it's being paired with.

That's Wood Talkin' for now. Keep listening. 

Red Oak Library Table

This beautiful old Mission-styled table glows again. In keeping with it's near antique status the choice was to remove the rings from the top of the table as best we could. That was done primarily with commercial grade bleach (and a lot of patient perseverance). Then the goal was to restore continuity of color and patina to the top. Sanding a jewel like this is an effort of only the very last resort, so in this case it was kept to a bare minimum--only as needed to support that color continuity effort.

So, what you see here (below) is what you get. The dark rings are 95% gone; a mere shadow remains of their haunting "before" presence. (Of course our customer will pass final judgment on this outcome.) What you see in the pictures is finished in a fine "hard" oil then waxed and buffed to a soft patina typical of the antique world. It's a finish that is easy to maintain with the quarterly application of some good quality furniture polish (Guardsman polish is recommended). It will feed the wood and keep it from drying in Colorado's semi-arid climate.

Here's a fun observation made along the way. As the table was originally being fabricated (probably @ 1940), its drawer bottom was cut just a smidgen too small. As a result the bottom didn't fit tightly into the grooves designed to hold it. The weight of the drawer's contents then tended to warp downward. (Check out the little pic, right. See the gap!?) Wow, isn't it interesting that even back then they had an occasional "bad day." Haaa, in April, 2012, we fixed it. Super.

That's Wood Talkin' for today. Keep listening!

At the Door...

New arrivals this past week or so include...
Four wonderful antique red oak dining chairs and a wonderful antique red oak library table. Yes, these have their own stories to tell, and yes, a great part of their stories is in the obvious scars they have to show for the tales.

So, we'll be back...and keep listening.

"...home again, home again, jiggidy jig."

She was in the shop for several weeks... and what do I do when a furniture "friend" is all spiffyed up and talkin about wanting to go home? I whisk her home of course!

Check out these pics. Can't you almost hear her breathing multiple long sighs of red mahogany satisfaction? "Ahhhh....I'm home!" Alas, here she is back at home in her familiar spot, bearing her lamp on revitalized legs, with one new brass "slipper,"and all of em refitted, integrated parts and pieces contributing a newly restored and deep sense of self-esteem and pride. It's one of those "feel good" stories--and a shared satisfaction that I'm quite pleased to have had a part in.

That's Wood Talkin...for today. Keep listening.

Update on the Duncan Pfyfe Lamp Table

These pictures will tell the story here. So, right, is a poor quality but effective picture of what were probably a puppy's "love bites" on one of the legs. Most of that scarring was removed in the stripping and surface renewal process (below left), but given the table's heirloom status, with all the stories it can tell, the tooth marks were carefully "edited" so family members can still find and revisit the puppy's memory--but in a way the table "wants to tell it."

Here is the promise of a new Pfyfe foot. You can see the broken one with it's strong down angular lines behind the block of Maple. You can also see the outline of the new foot penciled into the Maple block's surface. It's ready to be cut out and shaped for placement and gluing as a Pfyfe-styled foot.


Finally, below, is the stained and sealed table as it looks just before the lacquer finish coat and hand rubbing. It appears almost like knew--almost. (That broken foot is on the one you seen on the right.) The table retains it's heirloom integrity with the stories that compliment it. It stands proudly at attention anticipating a handsome new hand-rubbed lacquer finish. It's a promise in the making, and deservedly so!

Duncan Phyfe Styled Lamp Table

This cute little jewel has curves in all the right places. She's been in the customer's family, so despite her collection of blemishes and "wrinkles" she owns a respected place in the dining-living area of their home. As you may be able to see, she originally radiated Red Mahogany from underneath a factory lacquered finish. Even as I was transporting her to the shop she brimmed with excitement and enthusiasm--obviously anticipating her timely face-lift.

Here are some close-ups of her distinguishing characteristics, but take a good look because in less than ten days you won't recognize her. Here's an accurate pic of the way her top surface looks now (right), and (above, left) her pedestal base and upper leg structure (Yes, I know that's embarrassing--She's really shy!). She has a broken leg too (left, below...Wow, that looks painful), and somewhere along the path of her "world travels" she lost one foot and a "slipper"...(I told her an alligator story won't work here).

...and yes, that's a close-up (below) of one of her brass "slippers." These are genuine antiques, so the replacement will be a reproduction--but an excellent one. Nobody will ever know the difference--(and, shush...nor will she).


That's Wood Talking for today. Check back; we're gonna have so much fun!

It's a proud red oak single-pedestal dining table. This one's vintage--probably 1920-30's--and it's solid oak through and through; no veneer anywhere on this honey. It's the real McCoy! At one point the previous owner split the table's "ways" (slides) underneath; the two halves of the top were secured (with a metal fastening system) to prevent it from opening. So, it no longer accommodates a (probably) 12-14" width leaf. That mechanism will be left in place for now, but an appropriate replacement leaf (and ways) can be made and reintroduced in the future if, if...(The table yearns for past glories, but I've encouraged it to continue being patient...since time and perseverance is definitely and persuasively on its side!)

My customer explains how this piece belonged to some family members. At one point it reportedly sat out in a yard through the rain and weather. Surprisingly there is little separation in its joints despite the inappropriate disrespect. The finish right now is lacquer, but it appears to have been redone at some previous point, so the original finish could easily have been a varnish or, desirably, a fine oil with and a beeswax rubbed finish.

It has a variety of little "battle scars." (see pic, top left) Literally all of these have been filled, previous to this repair, or previously sanded from its surface. They will still be there to tell their story, but just under the protective surface of this new effort. It will be finished in a natural look, lighter in tone than what you see being removed in these pictures, a hand-rubbed lacquer to soften its visuals and feel. It'll be "soft and warm" consistent with the finishing "flavor" and patina of the period into which this beauty was born.


That's Wood Talkin for today. Keep checkin in--and listening!