Sam Maloof inspired Dinette Table

[jacko9]

Here is a black walnut dinette table inspired by Sam Maloof's design.  The base is finished in Sam's mixed oil/varnish finish and the top is finished with General Finishes Arm-R-Seal Oil & Urethane Semi-Gloss.

Jack

 

[Sparktrician]

Very nice, Jack!!!  Did you spray on the top finish? 

 

[Luzzy]

Thats really a beautiful piece!

 

[jacko9]

I actually wiped on the varnish after perfecting this technique building my rosewood dining room table.  The General Finishes Arm-R-Seal almost drove me crazy trying to wipe in on a rosewood surface but, the black walnut was real easy.

I used the General Finishes Oil stain to darken some of the sapwood and lighter shades then thinned the varnish 25% for the first two coats wiping smooth and that gave me a base without bubbles or raised flecks.  I then wiped on 3 coats full strength using a "french polish" type of applicator which was Scotts paper cloths moistened with mineral spirits and wrapped with cotton tee shirt material (I used this type of applicator for all coats).

Jack

 

[Sparktrician]

I actually wiped on the varnish after perfecting this technique building my rosewood dining room table.  The General Finishes Arm-R-Seal almost drove me crazy trying to wipe in on a rosewood surface but, the black walnut was real easy.

I used the General Finishes Oil stain to darken some of the sapwood and lighter shades then thinned the varnish 25% for the first two coats wiping smooth and that gave me a base without bubbles or raised flecks.  I then wiped on 3 coats full strength using a "french polish" type of applicator which was Scotts paper cloths moistened with mineral spirits and wrapped with cotton tee shirt material (I used this type of applicator for all coats).

Jack

Thanks for the fill-in, Jack.  Finishing is a new area to me. 

 

[jacko9]

I actually wiped on the varnish after perfecting this technique building my rosewood dining room table.  The General Finishes Arm-R-Seal almost drove me crazy trying to wipe in on a rosewood surface but, the black walnut was real easy.

I used the General Finishes Oil stain to darken some of the sapwood and lighter shades then thinned the varnish 25% for the first two coats wiping smooth and that gave me a base without bubbles or raised flecks.  I then wiped on 3 coats full strength using a "french polish" type of applicator which was Scotts paper cloths moistened with mineral spirits and wrapped with cotton tee shirt material (I used this type of applicator for all coats).

Jack

Thanks for the fill-in, Jack.  Finishing is a new area to me. 

There are a lot of resources online about finishing Mark (The Wood Whisperer) has some videos that explain some basics and you can find others if you Google, here are a few that you might find interesting;

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/oil-based-finish-basics/comment-page-2/#comment-827482

http://woodtools.nov.ru/books/Understanding_Wood_Finishes.pdf

http://www.antiquerestorers.com/Articles/SAL/oilwood.htm

Jack

 

[No Clue]

Great job! I love Maloof style furniture and hope to do one of these tables in the near future. Did you use any domino's in the joinery?

 

[jacko9]

Great job! I love Maloof style furniture and hope to do one of these tables in the near future. Did you use any domino's in the joinery?

Not on this piece but, if I do another one my DF700 will get a workout.  I took a weekend workshop from Sam a long time ago and I am still influenced by his approach to woodworking.

I'm going to do a black walnut desk and a entry shoe cabinet soon and other than the exposed dovetails, the main joinery will be with my domino joiners.

Jack

 

[No Clue]

Great job! I love Maloof style furniture and hope to do one of these tables in the near future. Did you use any domino's in the joinery?

I took a weekend workshop from Sam a long time ago and I am still influenced by his approach to woodworking.

Jack

That must have been a great experience. I think I would have had a thousand questions.

 

[mouppe]

Terrific! Love the chairs too.

 

[honeydoman]

Awesome I assume you also made the chairs

 

[jacko9]

Awesome I assume you also made the chairs

Actually, I had a set of teak chairs that went good with the table.  During the workshop as I watched Sam make a chair, I realized how much wood he used to sculpture his low back chairs with most of the stock 8/4 and I decided that with the cost of black walnut out here the ones I had were good enough.

Jack

 

[ScotF]

Jack -- beautiful work!  This is my next project, actually -- as soon as I finish my bathroom remodel, which I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  Did you make the plans for the table yourself?

Scot

 

[jacko9]

Jack -- beautiful work!  This is my next project, actually -- as soon as I finish my bathroom remodel, which I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  Did you make the plans for the table yourself?

Scot

Scot,

I actually attended a Sam Maloof weekend workshop about 20 years ago and got the design from Sam.  I was taking notes as fast as i could write and was watching him work with full attention.  I actually called Sam a few weeks later when I re-read my notes and was confused.

I have one of Sam's books and I also found a reference online at;

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/sam_maloofs_sculpted_base_table

I used 1/2" dowels like Sam suggested back then (before the Domino Joiner) but I'm sure Sam would have used the Domino as he said, time is money and he moved very fast.  You have to understand that Sam was over 70 years old at that workshop and joked that the he didn't collect Social Security because he was a long way from retirement!

Jack

 

[ScotF]

Jack -- beautiful work!  This is my next project, actually -- as soon as I finish my bathroom remodel, which I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  Did you make the plans for the table yourself?

Scot

Scot,

I actually attended a Sam Maloof weekend workshop about 20 years ago and got the design from Sam.  I was taking notes as fast as i could write and was watching him work with full attention.  I actually called Sam a few weeks later when I re-read my notes and was confused.

I have one of Sam's books and I also found a reference online at;

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/sam_maloofs_sculpted_base_table

I used 1/2" dowels like Sam suggested back then (before the Domino Joiner) but I'm sure Sam would have used the Domino as he said, time is money and he moved very fast.  You have to understand that Sam was over 70 years old at that workshop and joked that the he didn't collect Social Security because he was a long way from retirement!

Jack

Awesome!! Thank you!!!  I had the pleasure of meeting Sam at a book signing and he was so down to earth and such a great guy.  I wish I could have attended a workshop with him -- that would have been cool.  Thanks for the links.

Scot

 

[jacko9]

Scot,  When you make your table take pictures and share it with us on the FOG.  If you have any questions when you get to building it, PM me and I'll do my best to remember how I built the table.

Jack