I started spraying the top coat on the console table I’m working on. I’m using water based conversion varnish. This is the “B” side of some of the parts. Looking forward to spraying the show side next!
White oak vanities
Last week we installed these vanities as part of a bathroom remodel. They are made from white oak with cane door panels and solid oak drawers. They also have inset doors.
A short while ago I posted about turning the feet for these cabinets. They are split turned from white oak.
It was my first time working with cane. It was quite a learning curve but I eventually got it figured out. I really like the look of the cane door panels!
The cabinets were finished with @targetcoatings
EM6000 water base acrylic lacquer with a flat sheen. The flat sheen looks really nice in this project.
I was pleased with how these cabinets came out and can’t wait to see the bathroom once the remodel is complete.
Work in progress – Consul Table
I made some good progress on the consul table today. Did a dry fit on the legs and stretchers. Tomorrow I’ll take it apart and start sanding it prior to applying the stain.
Half lap joints for a consul table
The consul table I’m working on at the moment has crossed legs held together with a half lap joint. Typically I would use a dado blade on the table saw to make the half-lap joint, but these are tapered so I decided to cut them on the @shopbottools CNC router.
This short video shows the process, from cutting a jig to hold the legs on the CNC table to forming the half lap joints and how the legs join together.
This is the first time I’ve held a workpiece in a pocket without any clamps or vacuum. I was surprised at how effective and secure it was.
Copper veneer
Just received this roll of patinated copper veneer.
Wow! Looking forward to working with this. It will form the top surface of a consul table we are starting soon.
Raised Hearth Fireplace
We rounded out the week with the installation of a raised hearth fireplace.
This project first involved the tear out of the existing fireplace, an uninspired tile surround that our clients were not happy with. We then built and installed the hearth platform. The granite company were then able to install the granite hearth and fireplace surround and we followed up with the installation of the columns, valence and mantle.
The project was built from maple and finished with “creamy white” pigmented lacquer color matched to existing nearby cabinetry. All the parts, including the moldings, were made in-house.
Our clients were thrilled with the new addition to the room!
Custom moldings
It was molding mania in the workshop yesterday with the new Williams & Hussey molding machine working hard. We were running the moldings for a raised hearth fireplace we are building. This is a new profile and will be part of the mantle. Isn’t it beautiful?
Media center and electric fireplace
This is a media center incorporating an electric fireplace. We installed this yesterday and I’m really pleased with how it turned out!
It’s made from rift sawn white oak, stained Expresso and finished with a clear coat of @targetcoatings water based lacquer.
The floating shelves on either side of the TV area have dimmable recessed lights LED lights.
I seem to say this often, but I’m so fortunate with the clients I have. This is the second project we’ve done for them and we’re talking about one more.
Custom moldings
I recently made the decision to step up my molding game with the purchase of a Williams & Hussey molding machine. I wanted the ability to produce small runs of moldings on demand as well as the ability to make the moldings out of the exact same wood that I was using for the rest of a project. Also, being close to historic St. Augustine, I was getting the occasional request to make moldings that are no longer commercially available and I wanted the ability to get custom knives made to match historic moldings and fulfill those request.
This is a sneak peak of the first project that I’ve built where I made all the moldings on the project. Door moldings, astragal, crown and baseboard were all made here in the workshop on the W&H molding machine. It has really exceeded my expectations and I’m very pleased with the performance of the machine.
It was great to be able to mill some lumber, run it through the molder and incorporate it into the project, all on the same day. No waiting days or weeks for delivery and paying large shipping costs on long lengths of molding.
What has also been impressive has been the customer service I’ve received from Williams & Hussey. Questions about setting up the machine, purchasing knives and getting custom knives made were all answered promptly by both phone and email.
As the owner of a small workshop I am constantly having to make decisions about tool and machinery purchases, none of which are cheap purchases. It feels great to know that this was a good decision and that this investment in the workshop will pay me back for many years to come!
If you need or know of anyone who needs, moldings made to a profile that is no longer available commercially, let me know. From a small sample of the molding, I can get some knives custom made and run the moldings for you.
Renderings
This is a rendering of our current project. A built-in media center with an electric fireplace.
Renderings are a very important part of the process. They allow me to show my client exactly what I will build them, in their home setting. They also allow for changes during the design process. It’s far easier, and cheaper, to make the changes at this point instead of after we start cutting.
It takes a lot of work to prepare them, but they are worth it. I constantly hear from clients how important the renderings were to settle on a design or how much the final product looks like the rendering.
