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7th June 2012, 01:24 PM #1Awaiting Email Confirmation
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I need help with a couple of knots in my table top
I am making a Stickley style dining table for a house warming present. The design is based on an article from Fine Woodworking a few years ago. I am using Silky Oak I have had air drying for the past 5 years. The legs and aprons are done and I am now starting on the top.
I have 4 slabs with same interesting grain (see photos), but they all have a big knot right in the middle.
Any suggestions as to what I can do with them would be appreciated. I really don't want to rip the slabs down to cut the knots out as I will loose a lot of good timber.
Thanks for any ideas.
Bob
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7th June 2012 01:24 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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7th June 2012, 01:32 PM #2Hewer of wood
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Looks like a good project Bob.
With voids like those (and I speak as a turner, not a furniture maker), I'd fill them with a 1:1 mix of epoxy and ground coffee beans.
Can still be worked with tools without too much damage to their edges, and the colour mostly matches knots and will show some texture.Cheers, Ern
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7th June 2012, 01:33 PM #3
I've just had exactly the same problem with some silky, so here's what I did.
Cover the underside of the knots with a couple of layers of masking tape, then flip the boards. Mix up some casting resin (available from the green shed or other hardware stores), and add a couple of drops of spirit wood stain. I used Feast Watson jarrah - cedar is too red. Dribble the resin into the space around the knots. It will slowly seep into all the voids - just keep adding until it's fill to the top. If you are careful you can slightly overtop it to allow for slight shrinkage. Leave it for 24 hours to go off completely. You will be able to plane, sand etc. like wood, and it looks like a solid knot.
A tip for mixing the resin - the measurer from children's Panadol is ideal for small amounts of catalyst.
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8th June 2012, 09:44 AM #4Awaiting Email Confirmation
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Thanks for the advice. I'll give both methods a try before I tackle the main lots.
I'll post some pictures of the results. Don't hold your breath while waiting! I'm on a 3 and 1 FIFO roster in WA. I won't be back in the shed for another week.
Thanks again
Bob
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29th August 2012, 10:33 PM #5Awaiting Email Confirmation
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The Finished Project
I eventually opted for the casting resin method using Jarah stain. The process was a bit more complicated than I thought. Some of the knot holes were quite large extending all the way through the timber. It took 5 or 6 appliactions to finally fill the holes. Levelling the hardened resin was also a pain ( I sanded my finger nail off in a belt sander mishap, but that's another storey). I found my old number 5 with a curved blade ala Chris Schwarz to be effective, but the edge on the blade only lasted a few strokes.
Anyway here are a few pictures of the finished table.
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29th August 2012, 11:10 PM #6
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29th August 2012, 11:24 PM #7
Nice table, love it
Good to see some nice timber not let go to waste because of a few knots! Fencefurniture has a new rasp that would be perfect for taking the resin down, i am yet to do a review of it.....it will happen soon
What sort of finish did you use?1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.
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29th August 2012, 11:43 PM #8Awaiting Email Confirmation
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Thanks Ueee
I used Cabots CTF (?)Floor Oil. I had a lot of difficulty with it because I was applying it with a brush and the temperature in my workshop was only 8 degrees. Ihas a lot of trouble with streaking. For the last few coats I diluted it to 50% and wiped it on with a rag.
I am still not 100% happy with it, but it gives a good durable result.
B.O.B.
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29th August 2012, 11:59 PM #9
looks great, well done
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5th September 2012, 07:51 PM #10
That has come up really nice.
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5th September 2012, 09:24 PM #11Novice
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- Melbourne Australia
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knots in your table
congratulations on a great job -lovely table.
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6th September 2012, 03:43 PM #12GOLD MEMBER
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Looks good
Experienced in removing the tree from the furniture
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6th September 2012, 08:14 PM #13
Now that's what i call a housewarming present!!!!
Beautiful table. Lovely design and very well made.
Congrats.
Steven.
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10th September 2012, 10:21 PM #14Member
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Beautiful table there mate
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