I recently acquired a small amount of moderately figured birch, and after much thought went into it, I decided to build a queen sized bed for my girlfriend and I. I had just enough wood to complete the project, so I couldn’t afford to be very picky by putting any of the wood that was not suitable aside.
Don’t get me wrong, the wood is absolutely beautiful, except for 3 small pockets of worm holes on the side stretchers, and the odd hole in the specially selected pieces for the panels that I managed to get from a single board.
My question is what would a fine woodworker with say- 20 or 30 years of experience have done given the circumstances? I wanted to finish the piece without the hindrance of stains, and let the beauty of the wood really add to my original design.
Would you have tried to hide the worm holes with (I hate to even say it!) wood filler or other method, or would you have left the natural state of the wood as is?
I lost a considerable amount of sleep over this! My six years of experience led me to think that in this particular situation, a “rip” would look better than any “patch” I could come up with, so I decided to leave the holes out in the open in all of their glory
But now after the bed is finished, I have lingering regrets about my choice, but I guess when you make your bed sometimes you have lie in it! Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Replies
When a defect can't really be hidden without emphasising it, I will fill it with clear epoxy to give a flush surface with the wood. This seems to minimize the presence because the natural colour shows through and there is no break in the reflecting surface to catch your eye.
I take the other route and often try to emphasize the defect. Using the mind set of making a negative a positive, so to speak. If my attachment comes through I used "blacken" epoxy to fill the worm hole in the sycamore flag case. Well I guess I'll have to learn how to attach a file later, : ' (
Edited 3/30/2002 10:05:06 PM ET by Dale
Edited 3/30/2002 10:06:50 PM ET by Dale
Thanks for the advice Dick. I never would have thought of using clear apoxy to fill worm holes. I'm going to fill the holes and then put one more final coat of poly on the bed and then I'll be able to sleep well at night! Thanks again.
Roamer
Manmade defects are always eliminated in my work. Natural ones I leave in and try to incorporate into the piece if it's mine. Sometimes I leave it alone, other times I'll add a few extra worm holes (Dremel w/ ball burr) and sometimes I use colored epoxy. If it's for a client I find out up front if they're into the natural look and charge 'em extra for going out of my way to find that wormy wood:). I have a QSWO linen press with a bullet in the side panel I left in, so I guess that's an exception to the manmade defect rule. But it always get this conversation going with the client.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Thanks for the intersting reply! I have never really thought about it until you just said it - to eliminate man made defects and let the natural ones be; this really makes sense! You've touched my life ELCOHOLIC!
Roamer
I was making a line of candle lanterns once using recycled timber. I was very very particular in choosing the wood. No defects at all.
I ran out of the 'good stuff' so used some that had worm holes and nail holes all over it and took them round to the gallery. THEY sold like hot cakes and the gallery asked if I had any more like that!
That was about the point that I thought 'Ahaa', and also 'Damn!' cos I had cut up for firewood a whole pile of the 'damaged' stuff thinking it wasnt good enough.
Now I look for 'defects' and incorporate them. Bark pockets are my favourite cos the grain often goes wild around them and the black of the bark goes so well with the surrounding wood. dont get me started on live edges.................
Wood Hoon
yah, that kind of "rustic" stuff really seems to sell in the cottage country area that I live in. But I think that a piece has to have either a fair amount of "defects" or none at all to really look right. That's why I had a hard time deciding what to do with the few worm holes in my otherwise pristine bed.
It's funny what certain customers will prefer.
roamer
Ah shucks, It was nothin. It goes like this - manmade defects are flaws, natural defects are character, and if the customer want's to pay for 'em, hand plane marks are wonderously transformed into charcter and cash! ;)
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Edited 4/5/2002 3:47:30 PM ET by ELCOHOLIC
I see that there is much I can learn from you!
Got any other business related tips that I could use? I have a total of 6 years experience as a woodworker, and have been self-employed for the last 2. This August I am finally moving to a new shop and showroom that I'll actually be able to move around in, so any other tips you have that might help me pay for it would be faboo!
roamer
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