woodnthings

I for one get pretty involved in....
Step 1, the inspiration part, the design, the drawings and sketches, how and where the joints will be made, sizes, proportions etc.

Then Step 2, the mechanical part, making the piece, set-ups jigs, which tools to use, the fitting, gluing and sanding.

Then Step 3, and I think this is where a lot of us sort of drop the ball, finishing. This is part chemistry, past experience, trial and error, and skill or artistry, all come together. All the time and effort in the first steps are for naught, if the finish doesn't turn out well, the color is wrong or blotchy etc. If I remember correctly, C Man said, think about how you are going to finish the piece first rather than last. Work out all the stains and finishes before hand, so there are no surprises. That's great advice. Just wondered if others have the thoughts?
For instance in the finishing section, member timbo2410, carved this beautiful mushroom, in the photo below, applied the finish and it looked great. Then, and I don't know if this was planned or not, but being a large piece of wood, and green, it started to check. If the goal was a totally smooth finish without the cracks, then that didn't happen and it's too late now. Wood moves, unlike stone or marble in a sculpture, it's just the way it is. A different specie rather than Oak may not have checked in this manner, but this is gonna go in the "life's experiences" file for now.
Would a soaking in antifreeze like some wood turners use have prevented this? I donno. Just throwing out some ideas. bill

Timbo2410's mushroom created for his wife. Lucky Lady!

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Never stand directly in front of a horse or tablesaw that's running!
If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

cabinetman

Once you get face grain figured out, then comes end grain. I think it's a Mother Nature thing. You know...if you've been a bad boy...you get punished when you least expect it. I quit trying to figure outcomes, or explain the natural order of things.

What happened to his mushroom was cracking, pure and simple. You can see the cracks. I deduced from that there was shrinkage. That could happen without doing anything or applying anything. But, this is what he said:
.
Now my first reaction would be to say that I wouldn't have put wax on the piece. I don't like wax, and rarely ever use it. Whatever fanfare you get from that waxy look is soon diminished and has to be reapplied. I've had a can of JPW for over 25 years, and it's been opened once or twice I think, to experiment.

I might have just used an pure oil application, like BLO, or pure Tung oil. Even then, it seems like wood has a mind of its own.

Gerry KIERNAN

I cannot remember the name of it, but there is a lquid that you can buy that you can soak your wood pieces in. The liquid slowly replaces the moisture in the wood cells and stabilizes them so that the wood won't crack.

Fantastic looking mushroom, woodnthings, even with the cracks. They do kind of add character.

Gerry

Streamwinner

Good post. I like the break down of the stages in woodwork. I personally find the finishing part the most tedious, though I agree that the finish will make or break the project. I find myself really immersed in the design and building stages, which are my favorite parts of woodworking. By the time it comes to the finish, I just want to be done already, and I find myself cutting corners and working a little faster than I should.

As far as the mushroom goes, I think it looks fantastic with the checks. From the side it looks practically flawless and quite realistic, yet when you look at the top, you are reminded that you are looking at a sculpture made from wood. Intended or not, there's a fascinating double meaning in an artistic sense.

woodnthings

Just so there is no misunderstanding member timbo2410, created the beautiful mushroom as a gift to his wife. She like frogs too, and that's next on his list...heh...heh

__________________
Never stand directly in front of a horse or tablesaw that's running!
If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

woodman42

Thats still pretty cool, even with the cracks.

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Did you say tool sale?

Daren

That is a cool looking mushroom, thanks for bringing up the project.

I am not the woodworker that most of you here are...but I have a couple extra steps (just to muddy the discussion 'cause I like to do that some times ) My projects start as a log dumped in the yard. I make the lumber then air dry it for a year+ or kiln dry it if I am in a hurry. Some logs I see a project (s) in before I ever mill them. Others I may kick the lumber around for 3 years before "it'' strikes me.

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http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/ ...Urban logging/tool sharpening

frankp

I think the checks in that wood (of the mushroom) just make it look that much more real. It looks perfect to me, checks and all. All the mushrooms in my yard do that when they reach a certain size. Don't ask why there are mushrooms in my yard instead of grass... it's a touchy subject.

As for finishing, I must admit I'm weak in that area; even weaker than my other skills, which is saying something. I almost always use polyurethane or wax, or occasionally some boiled linseed oil or something like that. I'm planning on trying danish oil for the first time with the latest guitar effort, but I honestly have no idea how that will go.

The best part of a project for me is designing it. After that, my talents are generally too lacking to create what I set out to do on paper, so I redesign as I go, and hopefully learn what not to do in the next project. It's fun for me and I'll keep doing it that way until it's no longer fun, I guess.

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"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!"

--Theodore Roosevelt

Gerry KIERNAN

Timbo made a very fine looking mushroom.

Most, if not all of my projects tend to result from found, scrounged, or donated wood. So, my approach is a little different. First I obtain the materials, then I come up with a concept that will fit the materials available, then I plan my project [mostly in my head], then I lay it out or draw it in the case of a carving, and then I do the actual work. A current example is the work bench I am currently building. My brother donated a bunch of 2 x 4, 1 x 4, and 2 x 6 alder, from his bandsaw mill, to me a couple of years ago. In the back of my mind was always that this was going to be my work bench, so I am now building the top. I will build the carcass later. I realize this is backwards to the way many woodworkers do things, but I like to keep a lid on expenditures, so most of my projects are designed to fit the materials rather than the other way around. Out of curiosity how many others work this way? If this is going to muddy the thread feel free to start it as a different one, but I think it kind of fits.

Gerry

woodnthings

Like Daren and others say they "see" the project in the wood, then excecute it. We just take away everything that doesn't look like what you want, like a sculptor. Other things and wood stashes just lend them selves to specific projects like you said, it's going to be a bench top. The more formal stuff like on commissions and contracts, have to be made to certain dimensions and other specs so it's more a matter of planning it out then the execution. My point in this thread, was that the last step, Finishing, using what ever method, should be part of the planning from the beginning. This will insure there are no surprises or accidents.
And sometimes as woodworkers who get caught up in the making process, we let that important step go until the end and then get an unwanted surprise! bill

__________________
Never stand directly in front of a horse or tablesaw that's running!
If you're not making dust, you're gathering it. After I reread my own posts, I agree with myself even more.

Tony B

I rarely stain and I spray lacquer on everything. Not much decision making there.

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Tony B

http://www.thetexaswoodworks.com

The Everyman Show

I do approach a project with the same three step process. I am comfortable in step 1 and 2 but step three always scares the bejesus out of me. The way my head works is the first two steps I have complete control of, they are both within my realms of ability and if I mess one of them up I can always cut a new piece or draw a new line. But the last step is somewhat out of my control. I know it isn't and that is a bunch of head game nonsense, but that is how I feel. I put the finish on and I hope for the best, I really don't have a lot of control over the outcome.
As for Gerry's approach I don't think I have ever done or tried that. not consciously anyway.

__________________
John.

You'll never make yourself taller by standing on another mans shoulders.

Gerry KIERNAN

Guilty as charged. Finishing is generally the last thing on my mind.
But then, many of my pieces get no finish, as I like the look of the natural wood, whish is mostly Western Red Cedar.
You do however, make a very good point for people who are wanting to craft fine furniture. The final finish is critical for a piece that must blend in with certain decor, or have a certain look.

Gerry

johnep

Apparently Michaelangelo claimed to liberate his statues from the block of marble.
johnep

meetre

Great topic, and timely for me too.

I'm just about done with a custom bookshelf for a client (late add on for a remodel project) They want it to match existing desks and tables. I got the design and build nailed, came together just as planed. Got to the finish, and it's been nothing but trouble. First round of stain went on beautifuly...but being in a rush to get done, I put the lacquer on an hour or so too soon. Some of the stain re-activated and ran. Sanded it down and re-stained, now I can't get it lay even on the oak. Finally threw in the towel today and started replacing the back (where I've had the troubles).

I definitely need to work on the finishing skills, or find a good finisher to do it for me.