intothelens

I...I don't believe...did you see that? The wood actually WINKED at me!!!

I had graduated to finishing for a cabinetry shop. This time, I was handed several large commercial display cases.
I started the project in a bad frame of mind -- I had always approached finishing my own work with the belief that you don't fight the wood. If you want dark finish, start with a dark wood, like walnut. Light appearance, use the whiter, lighter woods from the beginning, such as maple or fir. My experience had taught me that fighting the wood's natural tones created trouble and time, and did not benefit the final look anyhow.
However, here the emphasis is on money, and in the interest of profit, I had before me a project constructed of maple that was to be finished in the dark espresso color that is so popular today. 'Walnut is just too expensive,' I was told, 'so deal with it.'
Ugh.
It also was built with large recessed panels, with 1/2" edges.
Small sample in hand, I sprayed the set w/ the darkest lacquer-based tinting I could create. I took several coats, and was very uneven, blotchy. Plus, my attempts to fill the recessed edges were very flawed; I oversprayed, creating shadows around every panel. The amount of coloring needed also created adhesion problems.
Absolutely unacceptable. I wiped everything off. Took two very long days.
With the help of the shop's former finisher, I learned to use aniline dye as the initial darkening agent. It has smaller molecules, fills the wood with more color with one coat. We used a walnut colored dye, then toned from there with the tints. I also perfected my recessed edges technique on smaller pieces provided by the shop.
Finally, the project was rescued.
On a side note, I helped deliver this set. The dye was fantastic on the grain, and I hated covering it up with so much tint, just goes against my natural instincts, so I deliberately left the door backs and cabinet interiors un-tinted (with the shop's permission) just to let some beauty show through. As I tried to explain this to the customer, she interrupted, "Oh, great, all the grain's on the inside!"
As if anyone who orders a deep espresso finish like this is truly concerned about seeing grain!
Another lesson learned about keeping your mouth shut and saving your relationship with your client....

It was the first of 500 small pieces needed for the order. "I'm going to miss the Ellen Degeneres Show tonight," he mumbled to himself. Even before he cut the first one, Greg was dreaming -- wantonly, longingly -- of using the shaper he almost bought just days prior. This was moments before his trusty, old plunge router, seething with jealousy, ripped across the benchtop and out the shop door. With Greg's arms still attached.

Wow.
WOOD PORN!

This addict demands more photos -- can't find many on-line, or even a Hank website. Please provide links, editors.

Let's hope he used the wood to build a trailer....

When a business says it is breaking ties with a distributor because it cannot keep up with demand......either someone is running an end-around with the truth, or someone is an extremely poor judge of business opportunity. You don't turn your back on good sales, especially in this economy. As for the customer service, that's a training issue, and it may not be worth the outlay to alleviate. But if LN truly feels slighted by WC's intrusion in the lower-end handplane market, say so. The company looks foolish, really, in stating WC is simply selling too many planes. What a great problem that would be for anyone else....

1. Several different Forrest sawblades.
2. 14" bandsaw w/ resaw capacity.
3. Gooseneck card scraper.
4. Beading scrapers.
5. Mortiser.