Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Featured Project - Tall Table

This table has recently been honored with the highest form of admiration, a request for a new table to be made in its image. At the left there is a poll that gives you a chance to, in a way provide me with feedback about my work, and, more importantly, to help me set a price for my work. I appreciate your help and value your opinion.

Pine and Mahogany Tall Table

Detail of Table Top with Mahogany strips

A look from below, notice the apron beading.

Truly special coloring for Pine to have.

Another view of the coloring.

Now this is what I want you to ponder, are these bits of color flaws or do they enhance the beauty of the piece? When I ponder this, something I heard on the radio comes to mind. The quote was something like "The only difference between poison and medicine is the dosage". I personally really enjoy the bits of color in this wood, but I wouldn't as much if they were darker or more prevalent. They are just enough to be pleasing but not enough to be annoying, or poison for the eye.


I, of course, can take no credit for the beauty of this wood, only the capturing of it. You see, this project didn't start out on a presumptuous foot, with me going to a lumber supplier and asking for the nicest wood they had because, “I think I'm a great woodworker and therefore should only use the best stock“. No. This project had much more humble beginnings.


Those legs that I have been boasting about, with their unique inclusions of random bits of color, in a destiny kinda way, those legs sought me out. I was not the person to purchase the lumber from which they came and becoming table legs was not the original purpose. They came from a piece of 2x10 construction lumber, which a friend of mine was using for storage shelving. When he moved, he asked me if I wanted them, and I am a sucker for free wood.


The wood came to my shop and awaited a purpose, until the day my wife requested a tall table for her art booth at an upcoming show. The show was two days away! A couple longs nights in the shop filled with discovery and excitement upon finding this coloring, and the table was complete.


The joinery, quickly but not hastily done, has held up to being thrown into the trunk of a car and bounced down the road while being squeezed by the trunk lid. The beads cut in the aprons with my custom scratch stock have drawn the interest of may people at my wife's art exhibits. I am proud of the work and excited to show, to anyone who will listen, the parts of it that make it special to me. Thanks for reading.


God Bless.


David J. Ulschmid
~ Wisp Woods ~

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