Project Information
Wood And Materials Used
See part 1
Tools Used
See part 1
Location
Northwestern Oregon
Continuing from Parts 1 and 2: In this final part I will go over the finishing steps that I used and the assembly.
I sprayed the finished pieces with four coats of General Finish water based clear semi-gloss (indoor) finish. I chose this finish because it is durable (it is used for hardwood flooring) and the indoor version is more clear than the exterior version, which can give a slightly yellow color cast. I wanted a very clear finish so that none of the natural hardwood inlay colors (especially the eastern white maple) would be affected.
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Between coats I lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper. After the final coat I smoothed out the finish using 3-M ultra-fine sanding sponges fastened to the Hutchins air sander with double-sided tape. Last, to bring up the sheen and to remove any scratches, I used rottenstone mixed to a slurry with mineral oil and rubbed on with a 1" thick felt pad.
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I am currently building another coffee table of bigleaf maple using the same construction as this table. The new table will have inlays of an Ice Age theme. I have not decided on which finish to use for the new table. In the two years since I built the bird themed table I have moved on to Osmo PolyX #3054 clear satin finish. I think that Osmo PloyX gives a more natural look and it is so easy to apply! And it only takes two coats, with buffing between coats with 0000 steel wool (if you don't buff with steel wood after the first coat the final coat will have a flat finish with no sheen). But, will the Osmo PolyX be as durable as the General Finish that I used on the bird themed table? And, will Osmo PolyX change the color of the eastern white maple? I will do some testing before I decide on the finish for the Ice Age themed table.
One more comment about Osmo PolyX finish. At first glance it seems to be very expensive at $54.99 for a 0.75 liter can. The instructions say that "a little goes a long way." That is true! I rub it on with a white non-abrasive pad and it spreads and spreads. A 0.75 liter can of Osmo PolyX will cover more wood than a gallon of the General Finish that I used on the bird themed coffee table. Another reason it is economical is that only two coats are required (or recommended).
Now to the final assembly. The shelf fits into the mortises that are cut into the inside of the legs. The 2x4 at the top is there during glue-up to keep everything square. I taped and masked the inside of the legs to keep glue squeeze out from getting on the table. I used Tightbond III glue.
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Next, I sat the top on. The top of the legs fit into the 2" wide mortises on the underside of the top. I could not figure a good way to clamp the top on, so I weighted it down with 650 lbs of sandblasting media. After setting for two days it was finished.
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Here are more shots of the finished table, which was a big hit with my bird watching brother!
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I sprayed the finished pieces with four coats of General Finish water based clear semi-gloss (indoor) finish. I chose this finish because it is durable (it is used for hardwood flooring) and the indoor version is more clear than the exterior version, which can give a slightly yellow color cast. I wanted a very clear finish so that none of the natural hardwood inlay colors (especially the eastern white maple) would be affected.
Between coats I lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper. After the final coat I smoothed out the finish using 3-M ultra-fine sanding sponges fastened to the Hutchins air sander with double-sided tape. Last, to bring up the sheen and to remove any scratches, I used rottenstone mixed to a slurry with mineral oil and rubbed on with a 1" thick felt pad.
I am currently building another coffee table of bigleaf maple using the same construction as this table. The new table will have inlays of an Ice Age theme. I have not decided on which finish to use for the new table. In the two years since I built the bird themed table I have moved on to Osmo PolyX #3054 clear satin finish. I think that Osmo PloyX gives a more natural look and it is so easy to apply! And it only takes two coats, with buffing between coats with 0000 steel wool (if you don't buff with steel wood after the first coat the final coat will have a flat finish with no sheen). But, will the Osmo PolyX be as durable as the General Finish that I used on the bird themed table? And, will Osmo PolyX change the color of the eastern white maple? I will do some testing before I decide on the finish for the Ice Age themed table.
One more comment about Osmo PolyX finish. At first glance it seems to be very expensive at $54.99 for a 0.75 liter can. The instructions say that "a little goes a long way." That is true! I rub it on with a white non-abrasive pad and it spreads and spreads. A 0.75 liter can of Osmo PolyX will cover more wood than a gallon of the General Finish that I used on the bird themed coffee table. Another reason it is economical is that only two coats are required (or recommended).
Now to the final assembly. The shelf fits into the mortises that are cut into the inside of the legs. The 2x4 at the top is there during glue-up to keep everything square. I taped and masked the inside of the legs to keep glue squeeze out from getting on the table. I used Tightbond III glue.
Next, I sat the top on. The top of the legs fit into the 2" wide mortises on the underside of the top. I could not figure a good way to clamp the top on, so I weighted it down with 650 lbs of sandblasting media. After setting for two days it was finished.
Here are more shots of the finished table, which was a big hit with my bird watching brother!
