Ellis-Mackintosh-Limbert mashup table

kordwood said:

E-M-L in process

It's been a while since I've posted, but this little piece seems share-worthy. It's an homage to three of my favorite Arts and Crafts pioneers: Harvey Ellis, Charles Limbert and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. They all bring a different aesthetic, but mashed up, the A&C commonality becomes clear.

The Ellis influence: Most evident in the delicate edge of the top.

The Mackintosh influences: The overall proportion and the inward angles of the legs.

The Limbert influence: The overly structured and arched legs.

The history: The piece is made from reclaimed oak from two matching school desks we bought at a yard sale years ago - I think we paid 10 bucks for the pair. The wood was a mix of grains: flat sawn, riff cut and quartersawn. I matched it as best as possible, but since I was mashing up influences, seemed appropriate to mix up grains, too.

Here are pics of some of the leftovers, waiting their reincarnation into the next small project:

Some of the wood needed patching; again, the satisfaction of using old wood overrode the little human imperfections that came with the plugged screw holes.

Dimensions: 18 inches high; top is 13 inches square.

Lessons learned: I got much better with the bandsaw, giving it a great tuneup prior to starting. New ceramic guide blocks and a better understanding of blade tension was key - I fought drift on earlier pieces, but the arched legs on this cut smooth as silk.

Next steps: Final sanding and finish.

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

E-M-L in process

It's been a while since I've posted, but this little piece seems share-worthy. It's an homage to three of my favorite Arts and Crafts pioneers: Harvey Ellis, Charles Limbert and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. They all bring a different aesthetic, but mashed up, the A&C commonality becomes clear.

The Ellis influence: Most evident in the delicate edge of the top.

The Mackintosh influences: The overall proportion and the inward angles of the legs.

The Limbert influence: The overly structured and arched legs.

The history: The piece is made from reclaimed oak from two matching school desks we bought at a yard sale years ago - I think we paid 10 bucks for the pair. The wood was a mix of grains: flat sawn, riff cut and quartersawn. I matched it as best as possible, but since I was mashing up influences, seemed appropriate to mix up grains, too.

Here are pics of some of the leftovers, waiting their reincarnation into the next small project:

Some of the wood needed patching; again, the satisfaction of using old wood overrode the little human imperfections that came with the plugged screw holes.

Dimensions: 18 inches high; top is 13 inches square.

Lessons learned: I got much better with the bandsaw, giving it a great tuneup prior to starting. New ceramic guide blocks and a better understanding of blade tension was key - I fought drift on earlier pieces, but the arched legs on this cut smooth as silk.

Next steps: Final sanding and finish.

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

E-M-L in process

It's been a while since I've posted, but this little piece seems share-worthy. It's an homage to three of my favorite Arts and Crafts pioneers: Harvey Ellis, Charles Limbert and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. They all bring a different aesthetic, but mashed up, the A&C commonality becomes clear.

The Ellis influence: Most evident in the delicate edge of the top.

The Mackintosh influences: The overall proportion and the inward angles of the legs.

The Limbert influence: The overly structured and arched legs.

The history: The piece is made from reclaimed oak from two matching school desks we bought at a yard sale years ago - I think we paid 10 bucks for the pair. The wood was a mix of grains: flat sawn, riff cut and quartersawn. I matched it as best as possible, but since I was mashing up influences, seemed appropriate to mix up grains, too.

Here are pics of some of the leftovers, waiting their reincarnation into the next small project:

Some of the wood needed patching; again, the satisfaction of using old wood overrode the little human imperfections that came with the plugged screw holes.

Dimensions: 18 inches high; top is 13 inches square.

Lessons learned: I got much better with the bandsaw, giving it a great tuneup prior to starting. New ceramic guide blocks and a better understanding of blade tension was key - I fought drift on earlier pieces, but the arched legs on this cut smooth as silk.

Next steps: Final sanding and finish.

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

Branded. Then finishing begins.

The little plant stand/table project is moving along. This morning - at an ungodly hour before work - I gave it a final sanding with 180-grit, vacuumed the pores, branded it with my mark, and saturated the whole thing with TransTint dye.

I was particularly happy with the two half-lap joints that hold the base together. I've only done a few, but these are by far the best. Can't wait to see them totally finished.

Next up: Waterlox sealer, General Finishes walnut glaze, and a matte top coat or two!

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

Branded. Then finishing begins.

The little plant stand/table project is moving along. This morning - at an ungodly hour before work - I gave it a final sanding with 180-grit, vacuumed the pores, branded it with my mark, and saturated the whole thing with TransTint dye.

I was particularly happy with the two half-lap joints that hold the base together. I've only done a few, but these are by far the best. Can't wait to see them totally finished.

Next up: Waterlox sealer, General Finishes walnut glaze, and a matte top coat or two!

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

Glaze applied

Rubbing the walnut gel stain really fills the pores of the oak. I've found it's important to wipe it off thoroughly -and quickly - in order to get good contrast. This piece is small, so I didn't have to use mineral spirits to remove excess glaze.

In 24 hours or so, it'll be ready for the first of two coats of satin Waterlox.

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

Glaze applied

Rubbing the walnut gel stain really fills the pores of the oak. I've found it's important to wipe it off thoroughly -and quickly - in order to get good contrast. This piece is small, so I didn't have to use mineral spirits to remove excess glaze.

In 24 hours or so, it'll be ready for the first of two coats of satin Waterlox.

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

Glaze applied

Rubbing the walnut gel stain really fills the pores of the oak. I've found it's important to wipe it off thoroughly -and quickly - in order to get good contrast. This piece is small, so I didn't have to use mineral spirits to remove excess glaze.

In 24 hours or so, it'll be ready for the first of two coats of satin Waterlox.

Click to expand...

kordwood said:

Glaze applied

Rubbing the walnut gel stain really fills the pores of the oak. I've found it's important to wipe it off thoroughly -and quickly - in order to get good contrast. This piece is small, so I didn't have to use mineral spirits to remove excess glaze.

In 24 hours or so, it'll be ready for the first of two coats of satin Waterlox.

Click to expand...