aaronpetersen

1. Getting a summer job during college working in a shop with 2 older guys who were willing to take the time to show me how to do things right. One of the guys had lost half of one arm in a sawmill accident many years ago, but he could do more with 1.5 arms than I could do with 4. Most of what I did in the shop was stock prep, but I came out with the ability to easily work with any rough material.

2. As others have said, sucking it up and spending the money to buy good machines and tools and setting up a real, dedicated shop. I now have a dedicated, separate 875sf space with good lighting and no wife nagging me about dust. Now that I think about it, not giving my wife keys to the shop may also be a turning point.

3. Seeing hand tools put into action by real artisans. Woodworking is unusual in that you usually work in isolation and teach yourself, but need to see first hand what is possible before you can really elevate your work. I don't always have the opportunity to do this first hand, but the FWW website/community is a good second.

4. Maybe the most important tipping point was a loss of the fear of failing. My woodwork really improved when I stopped caring about mistakes. Since then, I've challenged myself to do all kinds of things that were way above my abilities and that has resulted in new skills.

Mathman, I love the border around the top. I don't think I've seen anything like that before. How did you attach the border to the rest of the top?

Kent,

Not sure exactly what you mean. If you're referring to the top, the core is honduran mahog., so that's not a molding you see; it's the core. I used a profile with a filet on the top which hid the transition from veneer to core.

Aaron

The Norm avatar is because I'm in mourning for the New Yankee Workshop. I love that show and will be sorry to see it go.

I followed the steps in the recent article by Sean Clarke, High-Gloss Finish Made Simple (FWW#206). Basically, I padded on several coats of shellac sanding lightly between them with 320g or 400g wet/dry paper. After letting the finish cure for a week or two, I came back and sanded with 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000g papers alternating with or across the grain to make it easier to see progress. Then, I polished the top using fine grit automotive polish on a cheap orbital buffer from Home Depot. It was actually quite easy and doesn't take as much time as you would imagine. The key is good surface prep before you put on the shellac.

Wow. I love this piece. I've long admired this form and wanted to make one of my own to display pottery. You've done a fantastic job and should be very proud. Congratulations!

Definitely a pair of Disston panel saws (one rip, one x-cut) that have been passed down to me from my great grandfather. They were originally used by both my great grandfather and grandfather, who were contractors, to build many houses here in MI. I have any number of power and hand saws at my disposal, but nothing gives me more satisfaction than the connection to my past I feel when I use these saws. I cherish them and can't wait to pass them along to my children.

That's awesome! As a kid, I always daydreamed of having a house with secret doors and passageways. I may have to add something like this to my house now to live out those fantasies. Thanks for sharing. Aaron

Thunder,

I love the table. The finish has such a wonderful sheen it begs to be touched. Can you provide some additional details on the finish and the construction? I'm considering a similar piece and would love some help. Also, what is that in the middle of the table?

Aaron

No shame in using prefab legs if Burak can provide them more economically than you. I, too, have built with them when I needed to get some furniture out the door. Ssshhh, nobody needs to know.