HappyMonkey/HMD WOODSHOP - Page 15

Happy Monkey · 03-30-2006, 12:43 AM

Thanks! All that's left now is the final drawer, the back, and then it has to be oiled and waxed.

glatt · 03-30-2006, 08:10 AM

What kind of oil are you using?

Have you used shellac much? I've just recently been experimenting with shellac, and am very pleased with the results.

Each additional layer of shellac slightly melts the underlying layer and then bonds to it as the alcohol solvent evaporates. This leaves the final finish as one uniform film, instead of multiple layers of finish like varnish or poly. When you sand it and steel wool it, you get a very pleasing result. It's so much more forgiving than varnish or poly are, and you don't get any visible strata lines if you sand through the most recent coat and into a lower one. It also dries very quickly. It's dry and ready for the next coat in about 45 minutes. The only drawback is that since it dries so fast, you can't work it with the brush much at all. Just apply one brush stroke and then go back over that brush stroke with the grain to even out any runs/drips.

Can you tell I like it?

Happy Monkey · 03-30-2006, 10:31 AM

Watco Danish Oil, and Goddard's Cabinet Maker's Wax. I haven't done anything with shellac (or varnish or poly). My dad experimented with finishes before I started helping him, and settled on the Danish oil. It's pretty much all we use now.

But if I want to make a glossy finish at some point, shellac sounds like the way to go. Though I am curious - if it's alcohol soluble, what would happen if you spilled a drink on it? Does it eventually cure completely?

glatt · 03-30-2006, 11:18 AM

If you spill booze on it and don't wipe it up right away, you mess up the finish. But, it's very easy to repair. A little wax will add some (small) protection against a booze accident.

And it completely cures in 45 minutes or so.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-30-2006, 08:45 PM

Shellac is easy to damage but also easy to repair, which is a good trade off and it usually keeps the wood from getting screwed up better than oil/wax.
Nice work, as usual, HM. Notice any difference in dovetail fit from the first to last drawer?

Happy Monkey · 03-30-2006, 11:35 PM

I didn't get a chance to do many of them this time around. My dad's doing most of the work on this piece, I'm afraid.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-31-2006, 04:02 AM

That's cool, better to be Norm than the guy laboring off camera.

It's for your sister anyway, isn't it?

Happy Monkey · 03-31-2006, 08:37 AM

Too often, I'm the cameraman, though.

Yeah, it's for my sister. Which will make delivery (to Cambridge, MA) a bit of a trek. But I suspect I'll let my dad do that, too...

Happy Monkey · 06-17-2006, 02:50 PM

Well, we're getting closer. The weather's nicer, so my dad's off to West Virginia most weekends, which has slowed things down a bit.

But he got some hardware in.

The carcass and some of the drawers have been oiled. An unoiled drawer is shown for contrast.

xoxoxoBruce · 06-17-2006, 10:20 PM

Beautiful wood, beautiful job, are those generic knobs or something old/reproduction?
I've got white porcelain knobs on my dressers but really should have pulls because I tend to overload the drawers.

Happy Monkey · 06-17-2006, 10:47 PM

They're reproduction. They're cast, not milled. About $20 each!

xoxoxoBruce · 06-18-2006, 01:03 AM

Yeah, I noticed the cast threads that's why I asked if they were old. The cast brass coloration is perfect for that color stain. Great job, your sister should be giddy.

Griff · 06-18-2006, 06:55 AM

HM>Griff

Happy Monkey · 06-18-2006, 08:52 AM

Thanks, but I just have to emphasize that this particular one is much more HMD than HM, at least recently.

Tse Moana · 06-19-2006, 04:43 AM

Gods, the thing is gorgeous! Wonderful work!

03-30-2006, 12:43 AM	#211
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Thanks! All that's left now is the final drawer, the back, and then it has to be oiled and waxed. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-30-2006, 10:31 AM	#213
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Watco Danish Oil, and Goddard's Cabinet Maker's Wax. I haven't done anything with shellac (or varnish or poly). My dad experimented with finishes before I started helping him, and settled on the Danish oil. It's pretty much all we use now. But if I want to make a glossy finish at some point, shellac sounds like the way to go. Though I am curious - if it's alcohol soluble, what would happen if you spilled a drink on it? Does it eventually cure completely? __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-30-2006, 08:45 PM	#215
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Shellac is easy to damage but also easy to repair, which is a good trade off and it usually keeps the wood from getting screwed up better than oil/wax. Nice work, as usual, HM. Notice any difference in dovetail fit from the first to last drawer? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-30-2006, 11:35 PM	#216
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I didn't get a chance to do many of them this time around. My dad's doing most of the work on this piece, I'm afraid. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-31-2006, 04:02 AM	#217
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	That's cool, better to be Norm than the guy laboring off camera. It's for your sister anyway, isn't it? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-30-2006, 08:10 AM	#212
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	What kind of oil are you using? Have you used shellac much? I've just recently been experimenting with shellac, and am very pleased with the results. Each additional layer of shellac slightly melts the underlying layer and then bonds to it as the alcohol solvent evaporates. This leaves the final finish as one uniform film, instead of multiple layers of finish like varnish or poly. When you sand it and steel wool it, you get a very pleasing result. It's so much more forgiving than varnish or poly are, and you don't get any visible strata lines if you sand through the most recent coat and into a lower one. It also dries very quickly. It's dry and ready for the next coat in about 45 minutes. The only drawback is that since it dries so fast, you can't work it with the brush much at all. Just apply one brush stroke and then go back over that brush stroke with the grain to even out any runs/drips. Can you tell I like it?

03-30-2006, 11:18 AM	#214
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	If you spill booze on it and don't wipe it up right away, you mess up the finish. But, it's very easy to repair. A little wax will add some (small) protection against a booze accident. And it completely cures in 45 minutes or so.

03-31-2006, 08:37 AM	#218
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Too often, I'm the cameraman, though. Yeah, it's for my sister. Which will make delivery (to Cambridge, MA) a bit of a trek. But I suspect I'll let my dad do that, too... __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

06-17-2006, 02:50 PM	#219
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Well, we're getting closer. The weather's nicer, so my dad's off to West Virginia most weekends, which has slowed things down a bit. But he got some hardware in. The carcass and some of the drawers have been oiled. An unoiled drawer is shown for contrast. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

06-17-2006, 10:20 PM	#220
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Beautiful wood, beautiful job, are those generic knobs or something old/reproduction? I've got white porcelain knobs on my dressers but really should have pulls because I tend to overload the drawers. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-17-2006, 10:47 PM	#221
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	They're reproduction. They're cast, not milled. About $20 each! __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

06-18-2006, 01:03 AM	#222
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yeah, I noticed the cast threads that's why I asked if they were old. The cast brass coloration is perfect for that color stain. Great job, your sister should be giddy. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

06-18-2006, 06:55 AM	#223
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	HM>Griff __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-18-2006, 08:52 AM	#224
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Thanks, but I just have to emphasize that this particular one is much more HMD than HM, at least recently. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

06-19-2006, 04:43 AM	#225
Tse Moana You're just jealous 'cause the little voices talk to me Join Date: May 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 203	Gods, the thing is gorgeous! Wonderful work!

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