The Black Art of Furniture Toning

Or - how do you turn a Birch Ikea Chair into a Cherry Ikea Chair?

I remember when late night television used to be interesting. One of the shows I watched was 'Furniture on the Mend'. Two wacky New York second hand furniture dealers revealed the dark secrets of their trade. They would buy new pine furniture, assemble it, beat it with rusty chains, rub 'special' dirt on it, then show how it could possibly be passed off as an original antique. Their favourite tool was an old piece of iron pipe. They knew every trick. They even put saw and burn marks in some of their pieces.

One secret of the trade was 'toning'. This technique could be used to hide repairs in valuable furniture. A couple of trips to Mohawk in Vancouver eventually yielded Cherry Toner in an aerosol can. Two cans are needed to 'treat' six Ikea Chairs. Professionals of multiple hues to spray on many colours at once to match an existing finish. Hold the can far, far away from the piece as you spay, and let the mist 'fall' on the wood. Use multiple thin coats. Toner is acetone based so drying time is about a minute and a half. I don't know about long term durability, but hey, I can always apply a bit more.

Please note the scarf G. knitted for me. I keep it close by at all times. That way, I don't miss her quite as badly.

To Cheer Us Up a Bit!

It's in the house!

Notice how it fits the rug G picked perfectly. Oh!

G had a long evening working and I hope she is actually sleeping soundly while I write this. There is not much I can do from here to help, except distract her a little.

I should not mention this, but the table was 2 inches (5cm for metric campers) too high so I had to chop a bit off the legs. You can't really do that with a shrug I guess. The table top is removable, so the whole thing is really quite easy to move G!

Don't worry honey, we will buy chairs. Now I just need to devise a way to store my recipes in the kitchen. No more oil fumes. I need the brain cells for my old age, or do I? Hmmm. (Scratch)

Postscript from G: B, now that the dining table is finished I recommend that you filter our blog, using the 'Dining Table' link on the right hand side so that you can read everything that we have posted about it, from the bottom to the top.

This way, you can see how your project unfolded, from the very beginning - from our discussions about its design, your trip to purchase the timber, your work in progress and right up until last night, when you posted about the final piece in situ.

I think that it makes a really lovely read - if reading it doesn't give you a real sense of satisfaction about a good project, well done, then honey...

...I am off to fetch the skillet!

First Coat

Today was my third day back in Vancouver after spending two weeks with G. My mind is absolutely full of memories and dreams of the future. My heart is somewhere is still in the UK with G, and thus I feel quite empty here. To maintain some level of sanity I decided that I needed to channel the urge to drive to the airport immediately into something much less satisfactory. I promised G that I would serve her coffee on the new table when she visits next, so I proceeded to the shop after work and after a quick final sand, I applied the first coat of oil finish to the 'project'.

For those of you (there seem to be quite a few of late) who are interested, the brew consisted of 40% boiled linseed oil, 40% tung oil, 10% turpentine, and a drop of japan drier. This is an old rifle makers stock finish. The linseed oil darkens the wood slightly, the tung oil is transparent but hard, and the turpentine is added for the first coat to improve penetration. The next coat will probably be 80% tung oil and 20% linseed oil to start a build up, but not darken the table too much. I will probably apply three coats of oil for depth and finish up with a decent carnuba wax to provide durability. After all, this is a dining room table meant for daily use, and not a piano. Vancouver is so cold and damp right now, nothing dries properly. I came close to a disaster yesterday when I applied an expoxy based home made wood filler to a knot hole. The epoxy didn't set initially so I cranked up the heat in the shop to save the table. I worked, and I hope the same luck will hold for the oil finish. So much to do and so little time. I need to double check the project priorities and see what is next!

Optical Illusions

The table is assembled. I have tried to photograph it, but as you can see it is difficult to capture a decent image of it in situ. We have decided to halt work over Christmas rather than rush the final finishing. Leopold has patiently sanded almost the entire surface of the top. I checked the final dimensions, and I think we are going to be OK with six chairs. It will be a bit cozy, but it will work. I have placed a measuring stick one yard long on the top for scale.

G. has insisted on a natural oil finish for obvious reasons. Yesterday I obtained fresh Linseed, Tung, and Japan Dryer, so can I whip up a nice batch of finish when the time is right. Perhaps we can keep and eye out while together in the UK for a really nice furniture wax to use as a finishing touch. Special thanks to Leopold for being so patient with sanding and detail. I could not have been anywhere near as thorough has he has been.

While G is sleeping...

What do you think those Page boys are up to while G. sleeps comfortably many time zones away? Well guess what, they do stuff. I warned G. that I was in the mood to glue today, and you bet I was. The glue up for a large table is a two person job at best, so Leopold assisted. We decided to play it safe and bring the table inside. The rain forest is living up to it's name and the humidity is around 99% but you would swear it was higher, therefore glue has a better chance of drying in the house. We only have one shot at this, and I knew that if G. was here, she would not mind a few tools, etc in the living room. We used the Karscher to remove most of the evidence. No worries.

Here is how the joinery worked out. This will be the last chance to see it.

Evening Update

All of the joinery work for the table base and legs has been completed! I did a dry fitting and yes, it all works. The plan now is to carefully add some tiny details with a chisel and plane to knock the sharp edges from the legs and stretcher undersides, then sand, and sand and sand and finally glue. While the glue is setting, I will finish the top. Just had a thought! I can apply the first coat of oil just before I leave, then let the table dry in the basement. By the time I return (if I come back) it will be dry and the fumes will have dispersed.

Design Issue

I must say that after looking at your earlier post, my mind has trouble thinking about anything but my girl. I'ts 6:30 AM and I playing 1930' s Muzette on in the background. I don't want to get a grip. I am just going with it.

I do need help with the table though. I am worried that legs have turned out too blocky. This photo shows the table legs in their current state. The groove on the table saw (with the sawdust in it) is straight and I have lined up the legs parallel with it to show the degree of taper. To the right is the jig I built years ago to taper table legs. I have created a bit of an optical allusion, and I have trouble 'seeing' the legs properly. My brain can't seem to handle tapers.

Proportion

Your are going to have to really exercise your imagination for this one, but here is a leg next to the tabletop. Yes it is the right way round, but is is leaning a bit. You know, it might be OK. My options are to change the taper angle or leave the angle alone and shave wood off to lighten the leg a little. I thought about it last night quite a bit and am leaning to just lightening the leg a bit. I have had this problem since I was 10 years old. Everything I draw or build tends to be heavy. This project doesn't have to end up like that.

Your sander works amazingly well. I sands three times faster than you think it would. I hope you don't mind me using it on this table G. It has variable speed so you can match the paper to the surface.

You will enjoy creating dust with this, I assure you!

Wood Chips...

The call of the shop was strong today at camp. In spite of a Pacific Gale which knocked out power on many of the outlying islands today, work on the table began.

The sleeping neighbours were awoken to the sound of a power planer. One of these was even heard to say, 'There are more waves in that board than in English Bay!'.

'It comes that way from the tree you know!' was the reply returned to the fortunate fellow.


The table top is now ready for glue, which shall be applied immediately after I check in with my special camper.













Personally, I think the table will turn out to be very special.

Timber!

After an insipired flurry of activity this morning, all is quiet at camp. The timber for the dining table project is relaxing in the shop, the chicken is marinating, and the beer is chilling in preparation for hockey on TV. For you metric campers, the shop temperature is set at a cozy 18 degrees which should help the timber dry out. I tried to choose boards with compatible grain patterns. Please note the substantial board which will be used for table legs. This board weighs at least 2 stone and will yield 9 table legs. What do we do with the extra one campers?

Timber Purchasing & Sawyer Systems

I am sorry but here I am, tucked up in my central London office building, surrounded by a concrete jungle and you are talking about purchasing timber...


...as you are Canadian, just let me revel momentarily in the dreadfully clichéd images that this activity is likely to bring to mind when communicating with the average, European jaded city dweller...






...opps, clearly I meant...


…I will just let these calming images wash gently over me while you try to educate me about the old sawyers measuring system.

It involves numbers, right? Now you do realise that you are talking to a numerically challenged, number blind Londoner?

When I was at junior school in West Wales (a village school with about 25 children), we used to have a mental arithmetic practice lesson towards the end of each school day. The lesson props were a gold painted, cardboard crown and a white, conical ‘D’ hat.

I guess that you might be able to see where this is headed - I was about 8 or 9 at the time and liberal 1970s education methods had not penetrated through to deepest, darkest, wettest West Wales…

…yup, I had to wear that bloomin’ white conical hat to the end of each school day for almost a full scholastic year.

The ONLY time that I got to wear that blinkin' crown was when this London born and bred girl mumbled (in her embarassment), “I do not know,” in Welsh.

To this day, I still panic and freeze if someone puts me on the spot regarding numbers, addition and calculations - you have been warned. However, give me a piece of paper, space to think, time to check my measurements or calculations (even better, supply me with a calculator) and I am usually alright!

I digress, back to the table. Cherry sounds like a great choice, its birthmarks will add character and I like the sound of a table that is constructed to last for at least 250 years. It’s reassuring.

A 1” tabletop thickness sounds elegant and light, both physically and optically.

Out of professional furniture making curiousity only and I appreciate that you said that the timber needs to rest, in situ, in order to acclimatise but you have also mentioned that you will have this table completed in a matter of weeks? Is 1" sufficient in depth to challenge Cherry's natural tendency to crack and ensure that the tabletop will not warp as the timber continues to settle over time?

Or does the table’s overall design/construction prevent this from happening? If so, can you explain to me how that works?

(It would be sad for you to put all this effort in, only for campers to discover that their Wolf dinners have a tendency to slide onto their knees?!)

Public Display of Affection Alert (PDA): cover your eyes, Leo.

I would just like to quote West Shore Camp’s lead and resident camper on the subject of the dining table,

"The difference is that this table will be hand made and be 'soft' to the hand and strong”.

Aww - you know, in many ways, this table may turn out to be just like its maker.

Materials List

Hi campers. Tomorrow moring will be my last window to purchase timber for the dining table if there is a hope of completing the project in the next couple of weeks. First, I must define the unit of measure. We will default to the old sawyers measure of quarter inches. Henceforth, when I say 5/4 that translates to 1 and 1/4" thickness of lumber. The reason they saw 5/4 timber is that after finishing, a board will end up at 1" or 2.5cm in thickness. The material I choose is cherry. It is an excellent wood to work with, but has two drawbacks; pitch pockets, and cracking. This means that the finished piece will likeley have a 'birthmark', and that there is quite a bit of waste with this material. Both are acceptable to me. I have access to 4/4, 5/4 and 8/4 timber. I will choose 5/4 for the top which will provide a finished dimension of 1". A table with this thickness will allow several resurfacings and last approximately 250 years. Boards of this thickness come in random widths between 4" (10cm) and 6" (15cm). There is approximately 25% wastage in the final dimensions after finishing, therefore to accomplish 37" in final width, I will require between 9 and 10 shorts (5-6' length) or 4-5 long boards (cut in half). The legs of the table will be made of 8/4 and I need enough for 4 at 30" in length. The stretchers will be made of 4/4 cherry and be mortised into the legs. This weekend I intend to plane and joint the timber. Before finishing the timber must be aclimatised to it's final home. This involves stabilization in humidity. I have not at this time been able to create a final drawing of the table, but the plan is to accomplish that while the timber is drying. Basically, I am envisioning a simple table with a champher on the underside. Tapered legs with lambs tounge detail. Light stretchers. If I can manage, I will add a curve to the stretchers. There will be no joinery detail except for pins (round) that lock the mortises. The finished table will hopefully be light, yet strong. The finished product will be much like the repro shaker table photos on our blog. The difference is that this table will be hand made and be 'soft' to the hand and strong.

Dining Table Project

Now, when you say the words 'Art Nouveau' to me, these sorts of images crowd my mind.

This website gives a further view.

It may just be the difference between how the style manifested itself on your side of the pond and my own?

Hmm...it looks a bit carved floral and flouncy to be truly 'campy'?

To me, Arts and Crafts is all about William Morris, Charles Rennie Mackintosh etc.?

If this is what you had in mind, these links may be helpful? We can go visit the Cheltenham Museum, if you like?




Arts and Crafts Museum, Cheltenham

William Morris Society (follow links to Arts and Crafts movement)

Repro Arts and Crafts Movement Furniture etc.














Now I thought that the table that we looked at in that gallery had much cleaner, sympathetic simple lines? It seemed even more pared down in shape and style (elegance) than these images of modern, repro Shaker style tables that I have found (which are closer in feel to the table that we saw)?

To me, it had more tapered legs and more discreet jointing, a bit more like this table below.

This table below isn't right either (a bit clunky around the joins). However, it is an original, teak 1950s table, which would be closer to the age and style of your house.

It does have the tapered legs that the one in the gallery had...but the gallery one, had a sharper, more elegant top?


I am not seeking to confuse, I am seeking to clarify that we are talking about the same sort of thing...! I look forwards to seeing your photos of the table layout, all marked up in situ!

Project Update Priority Review & Design Criteria

Camp Priorities

Although recent news has eliminated some of the urgency as to the comletion of the dining area before Christmas, I think this task should remain on the top of the list. The recent upgrade to the kitchen has enhanced the ability to prepare and serve quality meals to Campers. I believe that Campers should be allowed to enjoy their meals in some degree of comfort.

The recent addition of a light industrial Karcher Elektrobesen to Camp stores has simplified cleanup of the kitchen/dining area, thus freeing up time to allow the design and construction of a new Dining Table.

Recent review of 'The Art of Kitchen Design' by Johnny Grey has yielded little information for the table, but has provided some very strong ideas with regards to the replacement of overhead 'box' storage cupboard by open corner plate and glass racks. I habitually digress, but the information found so far will come in very handy down the road. The British Design Museum provided some inspiration, but I must say that the institution is well named as it is a tribute to design and thus not and ideal resource for this project.

I therefore have reverted to my original design concept which I will refer to in future as 'Arts and Crafts Lite'. Basically this style is my preference in furniture design. It borrows heavily from solid traditional forms that were popular at the same time the 'Art Neavou' movement was occuring. After all, what do you put your Art Neavou vase on? The AC Lite style also encorporates warm, traditonal material such as Oak and Cherry, with a simple construction method that allows the addition of some decoractive detail in the joinery. AC Lite fits well into the notion of 'form and function'.

Quick measurement of the existing dining table yields dimensions of 36"x44" (90cm x 110cm). Yacht Design resources indicate that a 6'1" tall male requires 32" (80cm) of 'elbow' room while a 5'3" female requires approximately 24" (60cm) to be comfortable. I therefore propose the final dimentions of the new table to be approximately 37"x56" and no larger. These dimensions reflect a comfortable seating arrangement for six adults based on an equal gender split. The additional 1" increase over current table width allows a more comforatable arrangement for a centre-piece. The increase in length should provide significantly more comfort than the existing table can provide as well as allow for the two additional guests to 'perch' if required. The next step suggested by a fellow Camper would be to outline the footprint of the new table on the existing floor to examine the 'fit' in the available space. I look forward to input on this next point.