Rustic End Tables

[butzla]

This was my Covid-19 project.  ---Fabricating 4 end tables for my office/mantown over my shop.  A couple years ago, I got the score of a lifetime.  12 boards of a full 1" thick red oak shelving, 12" wide and 12' long.  These had been acclimating in a climate controlled library of a very prestigious university for over 50 years.  The building was razed and a friend who worked in campus operations salvaged them for me.  This wood was a pleasure to work with.  Being so old, it was tough as nails but machined like butter.  It was as stable as plywood.

I used to work at this school so I wanted to build something personal for the sake of nostalgia.  This is what i came up with.  I wanted them to be rustic so I stained with a color called "Whiskey Barrel Gray"  I top coated with several coats of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal.  I always get disappointed when I use a stain and this is no exception.  It's growing on me though.  Let me know what you think of the color.

Years ago, I bought these drawer pulls on closeout from Lee Valley Hardware for next to nothing.  I think they were 2 bucks and change from $14.50/ pull.  I had this project in mind when I bought them.  I had been using TV trays up to this point.

 

[butzla]

I'll just post some random photos I took of the build.  Many Festools used.

 

[deepcreek]

Looks great!  Wonderful job.

 

[ultane]

WoW! Looks great!

 

[dltflt]

Those are beautiful

 

[HarveyWildes]

Nice use of the Leigh jig to space the dovetails.  Nice Domino use.  Most of all, nice result.

 

[mike_aa]

[member=3220]Jim Kirkpatrick[/member]  Wow, you've been putting out some top-notch work!  All four look great and the drawers are a nice addition for storage.

I have to agree with you about the stain.  The color is good, but I think it made the grain a little too dark and contrasty.  Maybe it will tone down with time.

Thanks for sharing.

Mike A.

 

[butzla]

[member=3220]Jim Kirkpatrick[/member]  Wow, you've been putting out some top-notch work!  All four look great and the drawers are a nice addition for storage.

I have to agree with you about the stain.  The color is good, but I think it made the grain a little too dark and contrasty.  Maybe it will tone down with time.

Thanks for sharing.

Mike A.

Thanks Mike!  Actually, after some wet sanding and paste wax, I just hauled them upstairs and put them in place and now I couldn't be happier.  They flank a couple of chocolate leather sofas with a dark green wall color and I think they fit right in nicely.

But has anyone else experienced that?  You take the time to do a nice job and then when you apply the stain there's an "Oh No!" effect.  That's why I usually always go natural.  But I dodged a bullet here. I'll post pictures once I tidy up a tad

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[mike_aa]

[member=3220]Jim Kirkpatrick[/member]  Wow, you've been putting out some top-notch work!  All four look great and the drawers are a nice addition for storage.

I have to agree with you about the stain.  The color is good, but I think it made the grain a little too dark and contrasty.  Maybe it will tone down with time.

Thanks for sharing.

Mike A.

Thanks Mike!  Actually, after some wet sanding and paste wax, I just hauled them upstairs and put them in place and now I couldn't be happier.  They flank a couple of chocolate leather sofas with a dark green wall color and I think they fit right in nicely.

But has anyone else experienced that?  You take the time to do a nice job and then when you apply the stain there's an "Oh No!" effect.  That's why I usually always go natural.  But I dodged a bullet here. I'll post pictures once I tidy up a tad

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Ahh, I can imagine in that setting they will really shine.  I think the stain you chose imparts somewhat more of a rustic (as you mentioned in the thread title) or "weathered" effect and that should go well with the leather sofas and wall color.  Outstanding!  Please share pictures when you can. 

Mike A.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

I really like those, they have bags of character, beautiful grain, and well built.  [thumbs up]

 

[mrFinpgh]

Very nice.  I think the big open grain and the hardware are really what give the piece the rustic/rugged look.  Something you might see in a fancy 'rustic' lodge.   The form seems pretty close to a shaker-style table, so it's striking how much the graphics/color are setting it apart.

Lately I always do at least a few samples and look @ them in the place where the thing is going to be.  I've had the same experience as you any number of times.  I can see where in a bright space the colors on this might not look as appealing. Would love to see it in-situ.

 

[sancho57]

nice work, the stain color fits them , gives them the rustic look. I really like rustic furniture.

 

[ear3]

I hear you on the difficulties of stain, but in this case I think you nailed it, and the color suits the pieces perfectly.  Amazing job overall.