My Latest Project

I just completed this stand as a birthday present for my beautiful wife. The framework is made from some curly cherry while the top, which is also cherry, has has some nice figure and a swirl of very prominent cats paws. The frame is mortice & tenon construction. The top is a three piece glue-up taken end to end from the same board and figure matched as well as possible. I attached the top using pocket holes in the top rails which I elongated to allow for seasonal movement. I beveled the top to lighten it and then carried that design aspect to the bottom of the legs.

I applied a half pound cut of garnet shellac followed by a custom blend of GF dye that I like to use on cherry. On the top I thinned down the dye to give a bit more translucense and allow the cats paws to stand out more. On the framework I followed the dye with 5 coats of satin wipe-on poly, while I sprayed the top with 5 coats of Behlen “Buffcoat” lacquer. Lastly, I applied a nice coat of Liberon Black Bison wax (clear).

This was a mostly Neanderthal project. I did cheat and use my tablesaw to rip the stock and to bevel the top. I also used a cordless drill with my kreg jig for the pocket holes. Oh yeah, and does using an electric buffer count against me too?

-- "I've cut the dang thing three times and it's STILL too darn short" - Name withheld to protect the guilty